Preston North End have been criticised heavily for releasing Tyrhys Dolan, and the decision just keeps looking worse as time goes on.
Dolan was an exciting prospect in the Preston system, but he was let go for nothing in the summer of 2020.
Rovers swooped in to sign Dolan on a free transfer, striking a move that left North End fans fearing the worst.
Dolan hit three goals and three assists in 37 games for Rovers last season, immediately going into their first-team setup.
The 19-year-old has already hit three goals in the Championship this season, and his latest goal was a beauty.
Dolan scored Rovers’ second in a 2-0 win over Reading on Saturday.
Picking up the ball on the left flank, Dolan drove at the Reading defence before unleashing a right-footed strike into the net.
North End would love this kind of positivity and flair going forward, and will live to regret letting Dolan go.
You can hardly blame Dolan for leaving. It currently looks like the right decision.
There is little pathway for young players to emerge at Preston, and North End’s latest move sums it up.
Joe Rodwell-Grant was around the first team in pre-season and has now been loaned out to Bamber Bridge.
That’s the seventh tier of English football. Is playing at that level going to push Rodwell-Grant closer to the Preston first team?
If Dolan had stayed, that would likely have been him – being loaned out to non-league clubs before eventually leaving.
After seeing Dolan shine at Blackburn, other Preston youngsters may do the same and walk way for greater prospects.