Slew had looked really promising at the back end of the 10-11 season and the start of 11-12. He seemed as good a prospect as Harry Maguire did at the time.
I think if he'd have stayed with us his career might have turned out vastly different. He'd have certainly learned much more about football in our first team than sitting on the bench at Blackburn.
I think that if an opportunity comes along to get a hefty signing on fee and a sizeable wage/contract then I'd never criticise young players for taking it. Sure, agents push things but equally their job is to get the best deal (mostly financial rather than playing opportunities) for their clients.
We might see the same thing with Jebbison where he goes for a lot of money but never plays or goes on loan a lot. However would not criticise him for taking such a chance.
Look at the likes of Terry Kennedy and DDG in the same youth team. Both linked with big moves as kids. Kennedy was ranked as highly as Maguire but injuries mixed with their development not quite progressing means both prob by early 20s were out of the pro game and both probably now have normal jobs and have to work every day.
Who knows Slew could have got an injury and never played again if he turned the move down?
Yes he is still playing but that move/wage would have been huge financially for him and life changing.
Ideally you'd want players to develop and play games before they are ready for such moves but sadly money talks for the player, agent and clubs.
I always recall speaking to Colin Morris about how much he roughly got paid, signing on fees and the tiny amount he got for a testimonial after being loyal to SUFC (could have gone to Seville) and how it kind of broke his heart to push Lee his son to sign for Derby from United but he earned more from his signing on fee and in his first year at Derby than Colin earnt in his whole career.
Lee did get bad injuries soon after so was right to make such a move and set him up for life.