Curle sad to see Goode go but believes move 'makes sense' for Cobblers

Captain departs after starring in Town's promotion triumph
Keith Curle and Charlie Goode.Keith Curle and Charlie Goode.
Keith Curle and Charlie Goode.

Cobblers boss Keith Curle believes Charlie Goode's transfer to Championship side Brentford is a move that 'makes sense for all parties'.

The 25-year-old defender was overwhelmingly voted Cobblers' player of the season for 2019/20 after a hugely impressive campaign at the back.

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He started all-but one league game and scored four goals, but it is his leadership and consistency at the heart of Town's back three that will be most missed by the club.

However, while Goode will undoubtedly be a big loss, Curle believes Brentford's offer, thought to be worth up to £1.5million including various add-ons, was too good to turn down.

He said: "In Charlie we saw a player who had potential, as a club we invested in Charlie and very quickly he has gone from a reserve team player at his previous club to our first-team promotion winning captain and now on to the Championship and a club who were a fraction away from winning promotion to the Premier League.

"His progression and the timing of that progression has been impressive but also in tune with our progression as a football club.

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"When we signed Charlie last summer, we faced a lot of competition for his services. What helped him decide to join us was our conversations together which were about developing his game, moving forward together and that in our belief we would be the best place to give him that platform to help him further his career and that is exactly what has happened.

"We have received a record fee, which in our opinion represents very good value for the club and when that happens, and it suits all parties, it makes sense.

"A lot of credit goes to the club and our chairman Kelvin Thomas as it’s important that if you are investing in players like this, that when they do move on you ensure you are getting best value which we have certainly achieved.

"Any player who is thinking of joining us knows that we are a club on an upward curve and we are the ideal place for hungry and ambitious players who want to join us on that curve, both from a team and a personal point of view.

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"We want players who can help us and help themselves. Brentford was also a good fit after Charlie decided that was where he wanted to sign as they have a very similar model and a good record of further developing players.

"Of course not every player in the squad will be in that bracket, you also need that bedrock of experience and of knowledge but we understand what blend is required to create that environment and that culture to allow the team and individual players to develop.

"For us, the recruitment is about adding players who fit our path at that time and that is where we are looking currently. Charlie needed us as much as we needed him, and there aren't many centre backs from League Two who have attracted the value of offers Charlie has and that is credit to him and credit to the club and shows we must be doing a lot of things right."