EX-BLACKBURN ROVERS DEFENDER READY TO HELP KITCHEE RETURN TO TOP OF HONG KONG PILE

• Jay Haddow 'excited and optimistic about future' after uncertain spell with Championship side

Hong Kong-born Jay Haddow is "excited and optimistic about the future" after joining boyhood club Kitchee, following a challenging two years with former club Blackburn Rovers.

Haddow, who has signed a one-year contract, will count as a foreigner, given his dual British and Japanese nationality.

The former Japan under-19 right back is "undecided" about acquiring the Hong Kong passport that would make him eligible for the representative team.

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Haddow's return to the city, eight years after leaving for England, draws a line under a period when his motivation was tested by the "lack of a clear pathway" at Blackburn.

In under-21 football, Haddow has played against prominent figures such as Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, and Manchester City's Rico Lewis, but never broke into the senior team.

Kitchee, however, were eager to recruit the 20-year-old, after the deposed champions committed to embarking on a new era, founded on young talent.

"I am super excited to be back. Kitchee is a big club, with high ambitions," Haddow, who played in Kitchee's youth teams, said. "After the struggles of last season, we are determined to win back the league. Another big incentive is the Asian Champions League, we want to qualify and do well for Hong Kong."

Haddow twice tried to terminate his Blackburn contract at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, "because of a lack of communication over my pathway".

"Any time I asked about my plan, I received no clear answers," Haddow said. "If I tried to look for a loan move, Blackburn provided no support. I played more than 60 matches in Premier League under-21 competitions, but my playing position was constantly changed.

"My coaches were fantastic, but some individuals were clearly hindering my development. I was relieved when I was allowed to leave at the end of my contract."

Haddow joined the English Championship club when he was 12, soon after moving to Moorland Boarding School, which has links with north-west based professional clubs.

The decision to go overseas stemmed from a "lack of development opportunities for young, aspiring players in Hong Kong".

Ten days training with Aston Villa, in 2015, had exposed Haddow to "players my age who were at a much higher level".

"That motivated me to work even harder, and made me realise I consistently needed that level of competition to develop," Haddow said.

In summer 2022, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland both expressed interest in Haddow, but Blackburn demanded a compensation payment.

"It was a ridiculous fee for an 18-year-old with no senior experience," Haddow said.

When eventually offered a six-figure sum, with added bonuses, Blackburn refused to accept.

Ultimately, Haddow signed his first two-year professional contract with Blackburn.

"It was difficult, because I didn't see a pathway at Blackburn, but I committed to always doing my best in training and games," Haddow said. "You never know who is watching. I felt I had a good two years, playing against top teams, and players.

"I have seen football can be cruel, but I still love it, and am excited about what I can achieve with Kitchee."

Haddow's close friend, and former Blackburn colleague, Adam Wharton, who is with England at the European Championship, has been "very helpful and supportive".

"We had some great chats," Haddow said. "I met up with him twice in London, after he joined Crystal Palace [in February]. He's the best player I've played with by a country mile, and very humble."

On his own international plans, Haddow acknowledged a Hong Kong passport "would be a big commitment".

"I am undecided [over passport decision]," he said. "What is important is how I am developing at Kitchee, and what my pathway will look like."

Haddow said moving to the UK remains the "best decision I ever made". "I am grateful I had eight years in a category one academy, and met some fantastic people," he said.

"I want to be a footballer as much as I did when I was 12, and will do everything for it to be my career for the next 15 years."

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2024-07-04T07:30:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd