Four Coventry City youngsters have penned their first professional deals as the first-team squad return for pre-season training.
Leon Lobjoit, Ben Maund, Louis Garner and Lewis Rankin have agreed one year deals with the Sky Blues after coming through the clubs apprenticeship programme.
The quintet will hope to force themselves into manager Steven Pressley’s first-team plans for the 2013-14 League One campaign.
Pressley said:“I’m delighted that these boys have signed professional contracts with the club because they are highly thought of and we think they have a bright future.
“The hard work starts now though. We want these boys to immerse themselves in our first team culture and develop as players and individuals and I thoroughly look forward to seeing that happen over the coming season.”
While Lobjoit, Maund, Garner and Rankin are part-way down the road to making a living from the game, the club has announced that nine youngsters will start down that road by joining them on a full-time basis as first-year apprentices.
The new recruits include twins Dion and Devon Kelly-Evans, Cian Harries and George Thomas who have already been capped by Wales at youth level.
Luke Bromley, Kyle Barnett, Jake Richards, James Maddison and Ben Stevenson make up the nine.
Development Director Steve Waggott said: “It is a huge moment for these young footballers who are continuing their journey towards professional football.
“We are delighted they are going to do that with the Sky Blues and our fantastic Academy. The club have produced many players over the years and I am sure the players who have signed today will be hoping to join that list.
“There is still a lot of hard work for them to do so I am sure they can’t wait to get started.”
