Fulham win Sam race
By Wendy Gee - 
PREMIERSHIP outfit Fulham have won the race to take a closer look at Eastleigh's 16-year-old strike prodigy Sam Wilson.
No fewer than five Football League clubs, including Saints, have enquired about the West End-based frontman, including two who wanted to take him on trial.
Eastleigh have turned down both those clubs for the time being, but have agreed to Fulham's request to take Wilson on a week's assessment, starting on Monday.
Wilson joined Eastleigh's youth set-up last season having spent a season at the Portsmouth Academy where he was initially coached by Mark Chamberlain, dad of ex-Saint Alex.
He left Wilderness School in the summer and was one of the first to sign up for the Spitfires' full-time player development scheme designed to funnel youngsters through to the pro game.
Eastleigh's director of football Dave Malone identified Wilson as one to watch during pre-season but didn't expect the live wire teenager to attract so much attention from so many clubs so soon.
Wilson, who turns 17 in a fortnight, has played just 150 minutes of football in his debut Blue Square Bet South season, making one start against Bromley and appearing seven times off the bench.
"Sam could have gone back to Portsmouth in the summer, but he decided to stay and I said to his dad that if he got anywhere near the first team, clubs would be swarming all over him," said Malone. "But I didn't anticipate it happening in six weeks!
"We said no to a couple of clubs because we can't see the benefit in him going there at the moment, but Fulham have been quite persistent and you can't deny a lad the chance to go to a Premier League club.
"But there's no guarantee that, come the end of next week, Fulham will say they want him or will come up with what Eastleigh and the lad himself will be happy with.
"If he were to join Fulham a fee would be applicable, but it's absolutely not the case that that's why we want him to go there. It's completely up to him if he goes or not."
Unlike Brett Williams, sold by Eastleigh for £50,000 to Reading in January, Wilson has some growing to do before he is ready for the professional game.
"Sam's a bit unusual given that most strikers in our league are 6ft 3in, 14 stone powerhouses," said Malone. "He's more of a Kevin Keegan than a Ron Davies size-wise. But if Fulham take him, it will be his potential they're investing in.
"He needs a couple of years to get stronger, but he's got balls, a bit of pace and he's not afraid of 9ft 3in defenders!"
Wilson is expected to be a part of Ian Baird's squad for tomorrow's BSB South visit of fellow strugglers Staines Town.
No fewer than five Football League clubs, including Saints, have enquired about the West End-based frontman, including two who wanted to take him on trial.
Eastleigh have turned down both those clubs for the time being, but have agreed to Fulham's request to take Wilson on a week's assessment, starting on Monday.
Wilson joined Eastleigh's youth set-up last season having spent a season at the Portsmouth Academy where he was initially coached by Mark Chamberlain, dad of ex-Saint Alex.
He left Wilderness School in the summer and was one of the first to sign up for the Spitfires' full-time player development scheme designed to funnel youngsters through to the pro game.
Eastleigh's director of football Dave Malone identified Wilson as one to watch during pre-season but didn't expect the live wire teenager to attract so much attention from so many clubs so soon.
Wilson, who turns 17 in a fortnight, has played just 150 minutes of football in his debut Blue Square Bet South season, making one start against Bromley and appearing seven times off the bench.
"Sam could have gone back to Portsmouth in the summer, but he decided to stay and I said to his dad that if he got anywhere near the first team, clubs would be swarming all over him," said Malone. "But I didn't anticipate it happening in six weeks!
"We said no to a couple of clubs because we can't see the benefit in him going there at the moment, but Fulham have been quite persistent and you can't deny a lad the chance to go to a Premier League club.
"But there's no guarantee that, come the end of next week, Fulham will say they want him or will come up with what Eastleigh and the lad himself will be happy with.
"If he were to join Fulham a fee would be applicable, but it's absolutely not the case that that's why we want him to go there. It's completely up to him if he goes or not."
Unlike Brett Williams, sold by Eastleigh for £50,000 to Reading in January, Wilson has some growing to do before he is ready for the professional game.
"Sam's a bit unusual given that most strikers in our league are 6ft 3in, 14 stone powerhouses," said Malone. "He's more of a Kevin Keegan than a Ron Davies size-wise. But if Fulham take him, it will be his potential they're investing in.
"He needs a couple of years to get stronger, but he's got balls, a bit of pace and he's not afraid of 9ft 3in defenders!"
Wilson is expected to be a part of Ian Baird's squad for tomorrow's BSB South visit of fellow strugglers Staines Town.
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