“No choice” - Lee Trundle backs Bristol City in Middlesbrough transfer situation | OneFootball

In a Football League World exclusive, Lee Trundle has revealed his thoughts following Tommy Conway's move from Bristol City to Middlesbrough

Former Bristol City striker Lee Trundle has backed his former club over the sale of Tommy Conway to Middlesbrough but admitted it was disappointing to see the academy product go, speaking exclusively to Football League World.

Conway rose through the academy ranks at Ashton Gate and spent the first half of the 2020/2021 campaign on loan at neighbouring Bath City, where he established an eye for goal in the National League South with four goals in 11 sixth-tier appearances.

The striker then went on to make five Championship appearances for the Robins during the latter half of that season and scored his first goal in professional football.

Following a 2021/22 season in which Conway struggled for gametime, he went on to become a regular first team player at Ashton Gate in 2022/23 and has subsequently caught the eye for his goalscoring exploits at Championship level.

After scoring on 10 occasions in 39 second-tier outings last term, the Scotland international completed a move to Middlesbrough, where he has signed a four-year contract.

Trundle makes Conway admission

Trundle admitted that it was disappointing to see Conway leave his former club in favour of Boro but backed their decision to sell him.

"Yes (it was disappointing to see him go)," he said. "I had seen him play and he is an exciting player.

"Naturally, you want homegrown players to succeed, but now the Championship is a tough, tough division and with some clubs having bigger budgets, you have no choice but to let them move on if it balances the books.

"Maybe the fee could have been higher, but I believe this fee has helped the club, and they can be stable in the Championship and look to keep bringing through good young prospects and pick up a bargain or two in the next couple of transfer windows.

"The club is in a good footing, stable in the Championship, but there is always that ambition."

According to Teesside Live, Conway left the Robins to join Boro for a fee in the region of £5m.

Meanwhile, in an effort to fill the goalscoring void left behind by the Scotland international, the West Country outfit signed Fally Mayulu from Austrian side Rapid Wien, as well as Ireland international Sinclair Armstrong from fellow Championship outfit QPR.

The Robins signed Mayulu for a fee of €3m, according to L'Equipe via Yahoo! Sports, while Armstrong's move to Ashton Gate cost Liam Manning's side less than £2m, as per the Bristol Post.

As alluded to by Trundle, the Robins made a fairly healthy profit by selling Conway, while they have now spent some of that money on two young forwards.

Only time will tell if Tommy Conway sale was worthwhile

Last campaign, the West Country outfit finished 11th in the Championship, which was their first top-half finish since they landed a 12th-place spot at the end of the 2019/20 season.

It is therefore evident that the Robins have made positive strides since Manning replaced former manager Nigel Pearson, who was sacked last October.

However, barring a dramatic 4-3 victory over Millwall back in August, Manning's men have struggled in the Championship this season, and have managed just one win in five attempts.

The Robins faithful will be particularly disappointed by their side's back-to-back 3-0 away defeats at the hands of both Derby County and Blackburn Rovers.

If the men from Ashton Gate endure a difficult season, then supporters will look back at the moment their club sold Conway as a flashpoint, but if they have a good season, then the services of the Scotland international will soon be forgotten.