Club reluctantly agree fee for winger...
WALSALL Football Club can confirm that Jamie Paterson has today joined Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee.
The 21 year-old winger has agreed terms with Forest after The Saddlers accepted a bid from the Championship Outfit.
“It is with great reluctance that we have accepted Nottingham Forest’s offer for Jamie,” explained boss, Dean Smith. “I have worked with Jamie since his time in the youth team and have watched him develop and progress.
“After the unwanted interest shown in him by Huddersfield Town recently, Jamie came to see me. He’s an ambitious lad who wants to play at a higher level.
“Nottingham Forest came in with a bid that met our valuation of the player and, after Jamie had made his feelings clear, we won't stand in his way and wish him every success at Forest.
“The money we receive for Jamie will be reinvested into the playing side of the football club, both at first-team level and Academy level, so that we can continue to progress in the short, medium and long term.
“Jamie Paterson came up through the ranks here and our aim is to continue to produce players of that calibre.”
Saddlers' Chief Executive Stefan Gamble added:
"Unfortunately one of the consequences of having some success is that players will start to attract interest from other clubs.
"When this happens, and a player makes his wishes very clear, it is important to maximise the return on our investment.
"Nottingham Forest met our valuation and this is a fantastic opportunity for Jamie. We all wish him well and thank him for his efforts for Walsall FC over the years.
"However, what is important now is that we move on, continue to build upon the success of last season and see to it that the money we will receive from the sale of Jamie is wisely reinvested back into the playing budget and the infrastructure of the club to enable us to strengthen the squad ahead of the 2013-2014 challenge."