Poll: Should clubs be doing more to find Vardy-esque non-league gems?
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Jamie Vardy has this season proven that you don’t need to trawl the depths of South American football or spend mega-bucks on a so-called ‘superstar’ to deliver goals in the Premier League.
With 12 goals in 12 matches this term, and one in each of his last nine games, the Leicester man has come a long way very quickly.
Just three years ago, the 28-year-old was playing Conference football with Fleetwood Town, before the Foxes took a gamble to the tune of £1m on the forward.
It certainly paid off with their deadly hitman helping them up to third in the table, level on points with league leaders Manchester City, earning an England call-up in the process.
But should more clubs at the top level be taking punts at the dearth of talent that can be found in the English non-league?
Luton Town boss John Still certainly thinks the bigger clubs should be looking domestically rather than sending their cash abroad.
“Jamie Vardy’s not a one-off. But the talent is being missed. There’s more out there that deserve a chance,” he told the BBC.
“The top-level Premier League clubs, they are probably more inclined to let a non-league player go to a League Two, League One or even Championship club first and then buy them.
“The Football League clubs need to be brave. Getting someone from abroad for a lot of money is taking a chance. Spending £60,000 or £70,000 or £100,000 on isn’t a chance, certainly for the big clubs.
“I think scouts have to be brave enough to recommend them to the chief executive and the manager, and they have to be brave enough to give these people a chance.”
Do you agree with Still’s thoughts? Should clubs be more willing to take a punt on a non-league player? Vote now in today’s poll…
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