Bedford Town have announced that star midfielder, Jago Godden has left the club after securing a Football League transfer to League Two side, Walsall, who have immediately sent him out on loan to Ireland.
Godden, who made an immediate and positive impact following his move from New Zealand to The Eyrie in November, is now officially a Walsall player, but has been sent straight out on loan to Irish Premier League club, Drogheda United until January 2027.
Godden has signed an 18-month contract in the West Midlands after just 11 games for the Eagles, but there was a clause in his contract at Bedford Town allowing him to join a league side should they come knocking.
An English Football League (EFL) debut will have to wait for the promising playmaker however, as Godden has been sent straight to County Louth to play for Drogheda United, and registered in time for their opening Irish Premier League fixture at Galway on Friday night (6 February).
“Financial compensation not the consoling factor”
It is not common for part-time non-league sides to block transfers to full-time Football League clubs, but with the business end of the season on the horizon, losing a player of Godden’s calibre will be a blow to manager, Lee Bircham and his squad.
“As a club, we obviously did not want to lose Jago, and we have spent the last few days attempting to find solutions with both Jago and his agent”, said a statement released by Bedford Town last night (4 February).
“However, the opportunity to move higher and seize that chance at 22 years of age proved too great a hurdle for us to overcome.
“The relatively modest immediate financial compensation is not the principle or consoling factor here. This is a matter of honour and fairness, while also demonstrating that playing for Bedford Town can, and will, be a pathway for players into higher levels of professional football”, the statement added.
“Jago, we wish you well and will be watching your career with great interest.”
The blow of losing Godden has been cushioned somewhat in the new loan signing of George Moncur.
The former Luton Town midfielder has joined for an initial one-month loan from Ebbsfleet and made his debut from the substitute’s bench in Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-2 draw at Curzon Ashton.
Read: Bedford Town snatch a point with 97th minute equaliser at Curzon Ashton
Focus turns to Chester
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Godden, speaking to the Walsall media team.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m so grateful that after hitting the ground running in the UK, I’m finally here.
“Wandering around the stadium has made everything feel real, I showed my mum around on a FaceTime call which was special and something that will live with me forever and I’m just very very happy to be here and ready to work.
“It’ll be an incredible experience for me as well as beneficial in getting another season of senior football under my belt. The league of Ireland is growing so I can’t wait to hit the ground running there and show everyone what I’m about.”
For fans of the Eagles, they already know what he is about, and will surely miss him dearly, but the world of non-league football is a fast one, and focus returns to maintaining the step two status that the Club has fought so hard for.
Bedford Town return to National League North action this Saturday (7 February) as they welcome Chester to The Eyrie.
