I have a feeling that, rather than being released by City, he decided, like Sion Spence, to turn down a contract offer from us. I think there are one or two others who did the same thing and, in my view, City need to address this because it may well be the start of something that was always going to be on the cards given our lamentable record when it comes to producing our own first team players - who can blame gifted young players if they decide that Cardiff City are not the club to give them their best chance of making it in the game?
I wasn't surprised by Spence's decision, but Pinchard was the one who came as a shock as he was, arguably, our most important midfielder in last season's Under 18s and looked a fine prospect when playing alongside Neco Williams in the Wales Under 17 side which won their group in the UEFA Championship last autumn - maybe he was aware of Man City's interest in him when he made his decision with City, but he's definitely not the sort of player City can afford to lose.