Norwich and Swansea are fighting to sign the striker who has been voted as the best player in League One
Norwich City and Swansea City are battling to sign League One Player of the Season and Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard this summer.
Ballard is reaping the rewards after starring for Leyton Orient at the top
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens hit out at his players after a 2-2 draw at Burton Albion on the final day of the League One season saw them finish 20th, three points clear of the relegation zone.
“We have a weak team – really, really weak, OK? And when our fans criticize them, I try to take the criticism away from them.
“So I come out and say that the situation was not good and then the fans come to me.
“I don’t see it as my defense of them, or going to the brink of breaking up with a group of supporters that I have an incredible relationship with. Week in, week out – especially in the last six or seven weeks – they’re being given rubbish.
“There are too many players who spent ten months playing and wasted my time. I had one year of my management wasted by players.”
However, one player Wellens was clearly impressed with was Ballard, with the Orient boss confirming he wants to keep the League One Player of the Season beyond the upcoming transfer window.
The 21-year-old also won the League One Young Player of the Season award, after playing a key role in avoiding relegation, netting 23 goals and five assists in 40 games.
Championship clubs are circling to sign Ballard
As such, it’s no surprise that a number of Championship clubs are now interested in signing the midfielder, according to a report by Sports Boom, who name Norwich, Swansea City and Wrexham as contenders.
The youngster, who was also named in the League One Team of the Season, has been described as formidable by Wellens, and his goalscoring record this season suggests he is ready for promotion to the Championship.
Championship award winners are named as the season draws to a close
Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik may have felt it hard not to win Championship Player of the Season, after winning the Golden Boot with 23 goals, but Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney was the preferred choice.
Despite Leicester City being relegated, Jordan James was named Young Player of the Season, while Frank Lampard won Manager of the Season, after guiding Coventry City to promotion.
Norwich will be determined to return to the Premier League next season, after a strong finish to the campaign under the leadership of Philippe Clement, taking 29 points from their last 15 games, which was not enough to reach the play-offs.
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