"I'm gutted for him" - Claim made as attacker leaves Southampton FC | OneFootball

FLW's Southampton fan pundit wishes Dom Ballard all the best after he secured a move to Leyton Orient

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Dom Ballard's time at Southampton has come to an end, after the young forward secured a move to Leyton Orient.

The 20-year-old came through the academy at St Mary's, but never managed to break into the first team, despite an incredible scoring record at youth level.

Ballard netted 20 times in 28 U18 Premier League games, and then progressed to U21 level, where he scored a goal a game in the PL2, which included four in three play-off games last season as the Saints reached the final.

Unfortunately, though, he was unable to take that form in front of goal into his first full season out on loan, scoring just three times in 35 League One games for both Blackpool and Cambridge United in 2024/25.

He'll have a chance to have a crack at the third tier once more with Leyton Orient, under a manager who got the best out of Charlie Kelman last season in Richie Wellens, and there'll be plenty of hope that he can hit the ground running at Brisbane Road.

And FLW's Southampton fan pundit, Martin Sanders, will be supporting him from afar, too.

Southampton fan pundit reacts to Dom Ballard's departure

When asked whether he felt it was the right time to sell Ballard, Sanders said: "Yeah, I think so.

"He's just not progressed through. He's done so well at U21 level, scored a lot of goals, really high for that standard, but he hasn't been able to take that step up into the first team.

"When I saw he wasn't selected for pre-season games, I thought that it wasn't going to happen for him."

Ballard departs Southampton having made just four first-team appearances for the club, two of which came in the 2022/23 Premier League season.

He scored on his debut in the EFL Cup that campaign against Cambridge United, but was unable to truly carry that momentum forward.

However, he does leave with the best wishes of the Southampton fans, having been with the club since he was first scouted in 2013.

"I like Dom, he seems a really nice lad, came through our academy and has been here a long time," Sanders added.

"I'm sad it's not worked out for him, as I thought this year could have been his year, but he's had a lot of loan moves, and he just hasn't gone and scored a lot of goals out there.

"I'm sure he'd have wanted to stay here too, so I'm gutted for him."

Dom Ballard could make a big impact at Leyton Orient

There should be some real excitement about what Ballard can do at Leyton Orient, especially under Richie Wellens.

Last season, Wellens managed to get 28 goals out of Charlie Kelman in all competitions, despite the American having plenty of failed loan spells prior to that campaign.

Ballard hasn't had the best of luck out on loan so far in his young career either, but has proven time and time again at youth level that he has a real eye for goal, and it's only a matter of time before the 20-year-old realises that for a senior club.

Orient haven't had the greatest start to the season, picking up just seven points in six games, but the deadline day arrival of Ballard could provide a much-needed boost, especially if he can replicate his form in front of goal he has shown in his short career so far.