Clayton is a nineteen year old pacy winger who currently plays for Newcastle Jets in Australia. His name has come to light over the last twenty four hours via a number of sports outlets. Having signed on for the A’ League Jets last summer he has had a respectable time of it this season.

The fact of the matter is that Clayton has got his admirers, and the suggestion is that certain Championship clubs are interested in taking that interest further. The club, Newcastle Jets is only twenty three years old, their history has been turbulent to the extent they are actually now run by a number of fellow A’League clubs in Australia. They seem to have a Chairman, Shane Mattiske, but todays news on the Jets can change by the hour. To cover that and offer a reasonable explanation as to why would take another twenty three years. A quick summing up is the club has been liquidated, saved, owners have been declared bankrupt, one a billionaire who allegedly now runs an Air Bnb’ God knows if that’s true but he is a bankrupt having lost billions.

The aforementioned Shane Mattiske stated on a Newcastle Jets sale before Christmas, “The focus was to stabilise the club and turn it to growth. It was always a transitional ownership. We’ve had approaches from different parties … but this is the first time we’re running a formal process. It’s important to find a more permanent owner who has the right background, credentials and expertise.” The A’League is surrounded by licences and procedures that are baffling. We will leave it there.

Looks like he is laser focussed.

When you look at the Jets current dilemma it’s no wonder British clubs are looking at him. Football will sniff out a bargain when a club is in financial difficulties. Hence the current interest from the UK possibly ? Clayton John Taylor started for Newcastle Jets at the start of this season in October, since then he has played all twelve games for his new club. Originally a Sydney FC product he has scored four goals in those games with an assist. He scooped another goal in a cup game. Other clubs started to check out Clayton after he scored a brace against Melbourne Victory in his second Jets appearance. Even though his side lost 5-3 he was a stand out performer. His stats below give a brief insight in to the player. He prefers the left side of midfield or on the wing, but is right footed.

Newcastle Jets take on Sydney FC on Friday around 9am so maybe a dose of football with your corn flakes is in order for those who want to see a bit more of Clayton. He was pretty ruthless at Sydney FC in the age grade side. Primarily assisting a lot of goals he also weighed in with goals too. Taylor has been described by his coach, Rob Stanton as fearless. The games he has played for his club this season regularly include comments on Taylor and his match contribution. They are nearly always praiseworthy. On his game and development Taylor commented in November, “All the boys have that belief. From the glimpses we have shown – beating Wellington and stuff, we can beat any top team. There is no team in the league that is untouchable for us. With the Jets four points outside the top . We are up there and can rival that but it’s about having that consistency to do it week in and week out like all the teams at the top of the ladder. Not having a good result one week and then having a few losses. It’s about doing it week in, week out to make a good push for a higher position” Sadly the Jets have slipped somewhat since Clayton made those comments.

Interestingly Swans co-owner, Jason Levien has several business interests in Australia, including a basketball team, Brisbane Roar. He is a keen basketball fan and has a trail of basketball ventures in the USA. That includes Steve Kaplan who is often mentioned alongside Levien. They too have agent contacts in all sports across Australia. That’s their business.

In any event Clayton seems like a decent prospect but surely a Championship club would be looking at him as an age grade player more than a first team squad member ?

Photograph licensed from AAPIMAGE via Reuters Connect

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