Bristol City Technical Director Brian Tinnion Explains Necessity of Selling Tommy Conway

Technical director Brian Tinnion stated that Bristol City was obliged to sell homegrown players Alex Scott, Antoine Semenyo, and Tommy Conway. Conway, an academy product who developed through Bristol City’s academy, transferred to Middlesbrough this summer. This move extends a pattern of the Robins divesting their top assets, as Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott also moved to Bournemouth in 2023. Tinnion indicated that the proceeds are being reinvested in “young, hungry” players, with the aim that these individuals will mature and contribute to the club’s future aspiration of reaching the Premier League. Speaking at a fans forum this week, Tinnion explained the situation regarding Conway, stating: “We offered him [Conway] the highest paid [wage] for his age ever at the football club and he was not interested.” He further elaborated on the necessity of the sale: “With a year left on his contract we had to sell him.” Tinnion also addressed the departures of other players: “Semenyo got to a point where he wanted to go to the Premier League, Alex Scott wanted to go to the Premier League, we could not re-contract them so we have to get the best money for them.” He then outlined the club’s approach: “That’s the strategy. Then we invest the money in Jason Knight, Max Bird, Yu Hirakawa, Fally [Mayulu] and Sinclair Armstrong, that’s what we have to do.” Bristol City has solidified its position as a consistent mid-table Championship team, though its last play-off appearance was in 2008. Head coach Liam Manning indicated that the club intends to emulate Brentford’s strategy of player trading to progressively enhance the overall squad. Manning explained: “When you sell Tommy you reinvest it and get Sincs and you get Fally. The next one that goes you then reinvest, but instead of taking the same you move up a player in the market.” He further commented on the team’s evolution: “If you look at the squad now to when we came in, I look at the depth, the physicality of the profiles we’ve got.” Manning concluded by stating: “What we’ve done is gradually upgraded and that’s what you do over time. And if you look at Brentford that’s what they did.”