Bradley Simmonds sent a come and get me plea to professional clubs abroad as the January transfer window opened this week.
The former QPR midfielder only linked up with older brother James at Hampton & Richmond Borough in late November after a spell in Iceland with IBV.
However, the 19-year-old confirmed the worst fears of Beavers boss Paul Barry by revealing he has set his heart on a move to the continent.
Simmonds appealed to clubs in Scandinavia in particular to get in touch, saying: “It would be very fair to say if someone comes in for me, I’m off.”
He added: “Hopefully I will be Scandinavia-bound in Sweden or Norway. I’ve been in the Europa League with IBV playing with David James under the management of Hermann Hreidarsson, which was a great opportunity for me, so I want to take that and see if I can go anywhere else.
“I came here to get a few games under my belt, play alongside my brother, which I’ve enjoyed, and to help Hampton get a few points on the board.
“But I want to play at the highest level I can. I’m capable of playing a higher level of football, so that’s what I’m going to try and do.”
Simmonds, who was a third-year scholar at Loftus Road with the Elite Development squad before being released by Harry Redknapp in April, said his wish for a move abroad is because managers in England are under more pressure to achieve instant results, meaning youngsters like himself are overlooked.
He said: “With the way English football is going, my best chances lie abroad. On the continent they give young players a chance.
“Here, managers are getting sacked every day it seems, so they don’t seem to want to trust young players or give them a chance. If you go abroad you will actually get a chance. We are so results driven here people can’t afford to take a punt on youngsters, and it is a shame really.”
Whether or not Simmonds gets his dream move, he believes those at the Beveree, big brother included, must live up to the standards set in back to back Christmas wins over title chasers Kingstonian and Wealdstone if they are to realise their play-off ambitions.
He added: “We have raised the bar on ourselves with these wins as people will expect us now to climb higher up the table. We are going to have to answer that challenge and we will do that.
“There are good footballers here, with Charlie Moone scoring goals for fun. He’s the best striker in the Ryman Premier League.”
Following those fantastic wins over Kingstonnian and Wealdstone, Hampton, whose game at Cray Wanderers on New Year’s Day was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, host Bury Town tomorrow (Saturday).
