Nottingham Forest free-agent-to-be Sam Sanders has revealed the reasons behind reportedly rejecting a new contract from the Reds in favour of signing for York City.
The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan in National League North with the Minstermen and helped them achieve promotion to the fifth tier during a three-month spell. That association has now been extended to a two-year arrangement after signing a contract to stay in North Yorkshire as of July 1, when Sanders' stay at the City Ground is set to officially end.
Earlier this month, Forest listed the defender as one of six academy players set to depart the club when their contracts expired but did not state that they had offered the player a new contract, as was made clear with under-23s captain Riley Harbottle, who has since signed a two-year extension. York claimed when announcing the signing that Sanders 'rejected a new contract' from the Reds.
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The youngster also spoke after being unveiled about how it was a 'no-brainer' to sign for the Minstermen permanently this summer. “I broke into the team, and ever since then, it’s been amazing," Sanders said on his new employer's website.
"The fans here are unbelievable, you see the attendance week in, week out, and in the play-offs, you are breaking records – they get behind you every step of the way. It’s a no-brainer (to sign) in the National League with (the chance of) first-team football. You look at (the division) nowadays, there are some massive teams, (with) York being one of them."
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