Promising youngster awarded contract
TEENAGER Declan Watson has been handed his first professional contract.The highly rated young winger has been given a one year deal after impressing with the Shrimps' youth sides and reserve team last season.
Boss Jim Bentley said Watson deserves the chance to be among the first team squad for the new season.
He said: "Declan is someone who has really impressed us with his performances and his attitude.
"He has played for the English Colleges side and grown in confidence since joining our college scheme.
"He really caught the eye in a reserve team game at Port Vale last year when he caused an experienced side a lot of problems with his pace and he is someone who we feel deserves a chance to show us what he can do over the next 12 months.''
Bentley added: "It is great that we are able to give some of our younger players a chance because the youth set-up at the club is getting better and better all the time with the addition of the Elite Player Performance (EPP) scheme to work alongside the college course.
"We have taken on Declan and Aaron McGowan this year and we are hoping that we can continue to do that every year as the standard of young players coming into the club develops.
"I am also confident that our own development system will shortly begin to bear fruit and we have a pool of home grown talent available. That takes time but we are certainly going in the right direction.''