Manchester City academy staff are surprised by the decision to allow Will Patching to leave.

England youth international midfielder Patching was allowed to leave City at the end of his contract, this weekend, and has signed for League Two outfit Notts County.

"When we spoke to a couple of people at Man City they were surprised Will had been released," Magpies boss Kevin Nolan told the Nottingham Post, after signing Patching and Tom Crawford from Chester.

“They thought he would be given another year and he also had a few offers to go to higher clubs as did Tom Crawford.

“But it was quite funny because Tom's agent is the same as Will's.

“He thought Notts could be the right fit for Will because it's men's football.

“I am really looking forward to working with him."