Josh Scowen has been a mainstay in the Wycombe midfield but could it be a change of scenery next season for the 29 year old with his contract up in the summer?
Some people say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I disagree I can’t help but feel now is the most wonderful time of the year, a time I like to call the contract merry-go-round.
Scowen finds himself coming to the end of his contract with the Chairboys after nearly two years with the club and has been a pretty regular first-team player for them during that time.
Highly rated in and around League One, he was apart of the Wycombe side that fell at the final hurdle against Sunderland last year in the play-off final and has played a fairly vital role in the Chairboys quest for another play-off appearance this season.
I have no doubt that a number of clubs will be monitoring his contract situation and I personally think he will be drawing interest from a number of clubs including some from the Championship.
Obviously, it’s part and parcel of football, players coming to the end of their contracts but sometimes you can’t help by questioning why the contracts of valuable players like Scowen are left to run so close to the edge.
Alas, that’s the situation he finds himself in so let’s have a look at five possible destinations for him.
Sheffield Wednesday
On the cusp of a return to the Championship, Wednesday will need to recruit well in the summer if they are to push on to ensure they keep their status as a Championship side going forward.
Many people when they hear the words recruit well think that means going out and spending loads of money and buying lots of players. In fact, the true definition means far from that as it’s all about being smart for Wednesday and a player of Scowen’s calibre would be an extremely good addition to the squad.
Not only does he bring competition for places in the ranks, he also comes with an abundance of EFL experience.
Queens Park Rangers
Still not safe in the Championship and Ainsworth hasn’t had that instant impact that many would have hoped for but, regardless of where the club end up, you’d imagine that Ainsworth will still be in his job come September.
Ainsworth has an expectation of his players and like every manager has a style of play that you’d associate with his teams, Scowen most definitely fits that bill and of course has worked with Ainsworth at Wycombe.
Ainsworth will need people who can hit the ground running in his system as well as people who can bring the other players up to scratch, Scowen presents a no-risk option for QPR given that he would be free.
Derby County
Derby are thick into a play-off race this season and they will be hoping they can head straight back to the Championship. Regardless of where they end up Derby love a seasoned pro and Scowen fits the bill.
I don’t know why but I just feel like this one sounds right, I don’t know what it is but something about it just fits.
Derby for me should be heading back to the Championship but if they don’t they will need to get people in who can help them mount a successful push for promotion next season.
Blackpool
Looks like Blackpool are going to be heading back down to League One for next season however, the writing isn’t on the wall for the seaside club just yet.
If they are to go down, I have no doubt they will be looking for an instant return to the Championship, it pains me to see the club in the position they are in right now. I still remember Charlie Adam tearing up the Premier League for the Seasiders.
Alas fast forward a few years and long gone are the glory days of Ian Holloway, the club seems to be bouncing all around the EFL at the moment. Personally, I think a club like this would benefit extremely well from the presence of Scowen in their ranks.
Portsmouth
It’s been a pretty bleak few years for Pompey and I think it’s pretty clear the club’s ambitions are certainly above their current performance standards.
Pompey will be hoping for a promotion push next season or a play-off push at the very least, Scowen has been there and done that.
He will offer the club some much-needed experience of the situations the club wants to be in and I think, he will offer above and beyond just that in helping pull the team through the tough moments.
People seriously underestimate just how much value having someone who is going to pick you up by the scruff of the neck in the hard times of a promotion push can be and having someone who can share their experiences to offer support and guidance.
Writers View
I was shocked when I saw that Scowen’s contract was running down I have to be honest. I don’t see Wycombe letting him go and I fully expect him to be retained regardless of if the club get that promotion they seek or they spend another season in League One.
If he is to leave, I think the one that stands out for me in that list is Portsmouth a huge club, stuck in a rut taking one of arguably the league’s best would be a huge statement of intent ahead of the new season.
