Bradford City boss Hughes still positive about the loan market

The winger turned down the chance to stay permanently and yesterday signed for Plymouth after the League One leaders stepped in with a late offer.

Losing such an influential figure midway through the season highlights the risks of temporary signings - especially if the parent club refuse to agree an appearance clause that prevents them from recalls.

Hughes was disappointed to see the Republic of Ireland under-21 international slip through his fingers so close to a deal being done.

But with West Ham’s Thierry Nevers set to come in, the City boss stressed how valuable higher-level loans can be.

Hughes said: “It’s about getting good-level players into your club that, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t have any chance of playing here because financially they’d be above you.

“The loan market works to that extent. But there will be moments when you haven’t been able to make sure the contract’s right because they won’t do certain clauses.

“You have to run with it just to get them over the line.

“There are a number of other players we’ve tied into continuing here by virtue of the amount of games they’ve played for us.

Romoney Crichlow has played 23 City games in all competitions (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“But sometimes the other clubs won’t accept that and we weren’t able to do it with Ty.

“It doesn’t put us off going into the loan market again. It’s certainly a pool of talent we have to be aware of and have the ability to dip into.”

His comments about appearance clauses should help convince those fans who feared Romoney Crichlow could be on his way back to Huddersfield this month. The centre half has played 23 games in all competitions.

There was no such safety net with Aston Villa and Wright, who made 17 City appearances, but Hughes felt they had a good chance of securing him full-time - until Plymouth intervened.

“I think he was very tempted,” added Hughes. “If the water hadn’t been muddied by another club coming on the scene, there was a real possibility that he would have signed a permanent (deal).

“It’s very difficult to keep any deal totally under wraps.

“You realise there’s going to come a point where a decision has to be made. People are aware of it so there’s more potential for it to fall by the wayside, which was the case with Tyreik.

“In the end you have to accept the situation that was presented to him. The opportunity to go to a higher league is a big thing for a young player.

“You can ask the question that maybe you’ve got to be careful that if you do move are you going to play week in, week out like he has been here.

West Ham's Thierry Nevers has been on loan at Newport (Image: Newsquest)

“But I sensed Tyreik was always going to back his own ability. Why wouldn’t he? He’s a talented boy.

“You can’t stand in people’s way and he wants to keep progressing his career. It wasn’t to be unfortunately.”

Hughes believes Wright’s progress can only help to cement City’s relationship with Premier League clubs prepared to allow their players out on loan to Valley Parade.

“I’d like to think that,” he said. “Tyreik would have admitted himself that previous loans hadn’t gone as well.

“This one was his most enjoyable one, and he’s said that, and I think that’s because of the success he’s been able to have and the platform he’s been able to show his talent on.

“High-level clubs take note of that. I’ve said it before we’re a good option who can offer young players an experience that nobody else can at our level.

“There’s pressure and expectation and they’ve got to deal with that if they are going to be a top player.”

Twenty-year-old Nevers has already had a taste of League Two football after spending the first half of the season at Newport.

Hughes feels that bringing in players who have been out on loan before is preferable because they have stepped out of their comfort zone already and know the level.

“When you’re at a Premier League club and go out on loan, you expect your talent to be able to cope with the demands.

“But a lot struggle on their first loan because it’s totally different to what they are used to.

“I think it’s sometimes better if they’ve been out before, even for a short period. That helps because it gives them a real understanding of what the league’s like.

“Some can embrace it immediately, others think, ‘what’s just happened and why am I here?’

“If you can get guys that have been out before and show they can pretty much deal with all that League Two throws at them, then it’s always worth going into the market and trying to get those players over the line.”