Coventry City: Jake Bidwell exit claim made ahead of January - "I really don't see a scenario" | OneFootball

FLW's Sky Blues Fan Pundit believes Jake Bidwell's time in the West Midlands is up

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

There is belief Coventry City left-back Jake Bidwell could potentially depart the Sky Blues in January.

The 32-year-old's time as a starting player in the West Midlands appears to be coming to an end, with Bidwell increasingly sidelined in favour of Jay Dasilva and summer signing Miguel Ángel Brau.

Even a contract extension last January through to the summer of 2027 cannot mask the reality that, for some fans, his legs simply aren't keeping pace with Championship football anymore.

Jake Bidwell claimed to not be "cut out for the Championship anymore" at Coventry City

FLW's Sky Blues Fan Pundit, Chris Deez, delivered a frank assessment of Bidwell's situation - and highlighted one game this season where the full-back was seemingly exposed repeatedly.

"I don’t think there’s too many Coventry fans that are going to disagree with me on this one, I absolutely love Bidwell, everybody does," Deez began.

"He’s been a fantastic servant for us the last few seasons, helped us get to where we are, but as you’ve seen in the few times he’s played this season, he’s just not cut out for the Championship anymore - certainly not for a team trying to get promoted to the Premier League."

Bidwell signed for Coventry on a free transfer back in January 2022 and has made 142 appearances for the club across all competitions.

Since coming through Everton's youth teams, Bidwell had two loans and a permanent spell at Brentford, before playing for Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City before becoming a Sky Blue.

What makes Bidwell's situation at the club perhaps a bit worrying, is the quality of alternatives available to Frank Lampard.

Dasilva, as mentioned earlier, has become a crucial player for Coventry's promotion push this season in Deez's eyes. After a somewhat uncertain start to his time at the club, the Welsh international has flourished under Lampard's management, displaying the kind of form that suggests he’s irreplaceable.

"Even if, worst case scenario, we don't make it to the Premier League and we stay in the Championship for another season, I think his time is pretty much through. He just hasn’t got the legs for it anymore," Deez continued.

"Jay DaSilva came in. He didn’t look great for a while, but all of a sudden, we’ve turned him into an absolute superstar.

"We’ve got Angel Brau on the bench who has barely got a look in. I really don’t see a scenario where Bidwell forces his way back into the team," the Fan Pundit added.

The 23-year-old Spanish defender was - like Bidwell - brought in on a free transfer. Given he's nine years younger, Brau offers a completely different profile to the ageing Bidwell from the bench.

January exit for Coventry City's Jake Bidwell would be suitable for all parties

Perhaps most tellingly, Deez doesn't believe Bidwell even warrants a place on the bench going forward.

"Without wanting to be too harsh towards him, because he is somewhat of a club legend now, I don't think he's even got it in him to be on the bench," Deez told FLW.

"The last time he started against Wrexham he was caught out. To my recollection, all three of their goals came down the left-flank."

In reality, two of Kieffer Moore's goals came directly from Bidwell's side before he was substituted in the 73rd minute. Given that was Lampard's first loss of the season as Coventry boss, he may not choose to start Bidwell again if the choice is there.

That was the experienced defender's first start in the Championship as well in 25/26 - and he's only played 124 minutes in total across three other league appearances.

With Coventry currently top of the Championship and looking like favourites to secure promotion, January presents a logical window for the club to offload Bidwell.

Deez thinks Bidwell could move either to a Championship club lower down the table, or potentially a League One side seeking an experienced defender and concludes by saying: "It will be a sad day when he goes.

"But, I’d be quite fine with it if he was sold in the January window."