Notts County will surely regret 2017 decision that has paved the way for Stevenage | OneFootball

Luther Wildin has excelled for Stevenage, recently earning a new deal. Notts will regret how his career has played out - they released him in 2017.

Notts County must surely regret their 2017 decision to release Luther James-Wildin, who has become an effective League One right back since departing Meadow Lane.

James-Wildin recently signed a new contract with Stevenage, and he has become a key player for the Hertfordshire outfit over the last few seasons.

The defender is now into his seventh season with the club, having joined them from non-league side Nuneaton Town back in 2018.

Having seen what James-Wildin has become, the Magpies must surely wish they hadn’t been so quick to part company with him, especially considering he has become a strong option in the league above Notts at present.

Notts County released James-Wildin before he made a senior appearance

After coming through the academy ranks at Meadow Lane, James-Wildin signed professional terms with the club in 2016.

He then spent the 2016/17 season on loan at Grantham Town, where he became a hugely important player for the Gingerbreads.

Despite impressing in non-league with the Lincolnshire outfit, Notts concluded that he would have no future at the club, and opted to release him at the end of the campaign.

The youngster left NG2 in 2017, having failed to make a single senior appearance for the Magpies.

After leaving Notts at the age of 19, the defender dropped into non-league on a permanent basis, picking up a contract with Nuneaton, who were playing their football in the National League North at the time.

Over the course of his time at Nuneaton, James-Wildin also had the opportunity to take part in Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy, which aimed to showcase the ability of non-league players and give them a platform to build success.

The Leicester-born full-back was excellent during his spell in the sixth tier, and his performances were rewarded in May 2018 with a move to Stevenage for an undisclosed fee.

James-Wildin has gone on to become a key player for Stevenage

Given the player he has gone on to become, James-Wildin is surely making Notts regret their 2017 decision.

Since his move to Stevenage, the defender has flourished in the Football League and his career has gone from strength to strength at the Lamex Stadium.

The 27-year-old has caught the eye with his athleticism, producing countless tireless displays down the right flank for Alex Revell’s side once again this season.

He recently clocked up his 231st appearance for the club, becoming their all-time record EFL appearance maker in the process. He was previously an integral part of their promotion under Steve Evans in the 2022/23 season, making 36 appearances as they raced to automatic promotion.

Since then, James-Wildin has really kicked on as Stevenage have established themselves in the third tier. After a ninth-placed finish last term, Revell’s men are set to avoid relegation once again this time around, with the defender a key figure again.

The two-cap Antigua and Barbuda international has seen his performances rewarded with a renewed contract, which is testament to the quality that he can provide.

He also played a part in Stevenage's memorable FA Cup victory over Aston Villa back in January 2023, when they scored twice late on to down the Premier League outfit at Villa Park.

While Notts may have believed they made the correct decision on James-Wildin at the time, it has been proven over time to be one of the poorer decisions they have made in recent years.

His release came at a time when the Magpies released several young talents before they really had a chance to show what they could do at Meadow Lane. Several, including James-Wildin and Portsmouth’s Colby Bishop, have gone on to carve out successful careers for themselves in the EFL.