Former Cheltenham Town wing-back Chris Hussey was a fan favourite at Whaddon Road but his departure was a shrewd decision by the club.
It was difficult for supporters to see such a beloved figure leave, but a five-figure fee for a 33-year-old with 18 months left on his contract, was an offer Cheltenham couldn’t refuse.
It was also perhaps the most sensible decision for Hussey himself. He will forever be remembered for his equalising free-kick against Carlisle United which propelled the Robins into League One, but his form had been questionable this season.
Hussey averaged 6.3 assists per season for Cheltenham during his three seasons in League Two, as opposed to just one assist in 23 League One appearances.
His return to League Two with Port Vale will see him once again become one of the best players in his position. It also made sense financially because and the club were unwilling to offer Hussey an increased wage and his move to Vale Park earned him a pay rise.
Former Cheltenham Town full-back Chris Hussey was a fan favourite at Whaddon Road and his departure came as somewhat of a surprise. Nevertheless, it was a shrewd financial decision from the club and illustrated their stable and futuristic mindset.
Cheltenham have the second lowest wage budget in League One behind only Crewe Alexandra and the club were unwilling to compromise on their principles by offering Hussey an increased wage.
Therefore, Hussey received a pay rise by stepping down a division to join League Two outfit Port Vale in January. Not only did the move make sense financially for Hussey, but it could also be a sensible move for footballing reasons too.
Hussey was among the best full-backs in League Two for Cheltenham and registered 19 assists across three seasons for the Robins in the fourth-tier.
His productivity decreased drastically in League One as he mustered just one assist in 23 appearances – a tally Hussey has already surpassed during his first five games for Port Vale.
But the biggest indicator that Cheltenham made the right decision is purely monetary. Firstly, the Robins earned a five-figure sum for a 33-year-old with 18 months left on his contract.
His replacement Ben Williams, who also joined on a five-figure sum from Barnsley, is only 22-years-old. The Blackburn Rovers academy graduate showed promise by helping Barnsley achieve promotion to the Championship in 2019.
He largely retained his place in the side in the Championship until a long-term injury halted his progression. Cheltenham boss Michael Duff will hope that Williams can rediscover his potential at the Robins, thus increasing his stock on the transfer market for a future sale.
