Callum O’Dowda’s time at Bristol City is firmly in the balance as Bristol Live understands the club have no intention of activating the Republic of Ireland international’s 12-month option.
O’Dowda is one of four first-team players out of contract at the end of the season but the Robins retain the opportunity to extend his agreement by an additional year. But due to financial considerations and the concept of what represents value in Championship salaries following the impact of Covid-19, the Robins simply aren’t willing to continue to pay O’Dowda what he has earned over the last three seasons.
That leaves the distinct chance that the winger will leave Ashton Gate on a free transfer at the end of June but there is also a possibility he could also be offered reduced terms, which would fall in line with City’s redesigned wage structure, although no offer has been forthcoming as yet.
O’Dowda, who was not in the matchday squad on Saturday for the 5-0 win over Hull City, does have interest elsewhere in the Championship with five clubs understood to be monitoring his status and potential availability.
That is complicating the situation to an extent because the spectre of Jamie Paterson’s departure still remains, and while O’Dowda’s form in a red shirt over the last three season has been mixed, and badly affected by injuries, the concept of letting him walk for nothing to a Championship rival and then performing would be similarly regrettable.
Then again, much like with Paterson who Nigel Pearson felt had become too comfortable as a City player due to the length of time he had been at the club, a natural parting of the ways could prove better for both parties in the long run.
He has his detractors among the City fanbase, but O’Dowda remains an experienced Championship performer now in his peak years who holds a strong reputation throughout the league and is versatile enough to play in a multitude of positions down the left-hand side and even in the middle of the park.
O’Dowda is said to still retain a positive and productive relationship with Pearson and is settled in Bristol with his fiancee, having arrived in the city from Oxford United in 2016.
The Republic of Ireland international has made 20 league appearances this season - including a run of 14 starts from a possible 15 matches between November and February - and had appeared to have found an element of consistency and reliability in his performances.
However, he hasn’t played since sustaining a knee injury against Reading on February 9, which has been an unfortunate theme since he signed his most recent contract in September 2019 following months of speculation in which O’Dowda was linked with Leeds United and Fulham.
That was during the boom time of Championship spending, but O’Dowda’s contract, while generous, wasn’t considered particularly expensive. In the climate of 2022, however, and with Pearson and CEO Richard Gould working hard to drive City’s wage bill down, it represents questionable value given the number of caveats around the player’s durability.
Pearson stated in November, soon after activating an extension in Tyreeq Bakinson’s agreement, that to further his stay in BS3, O’Dowda needed to stay fit over a sufficient period of time.
It remains unclear if he has done enough since then to win his manager’s approval, but the next seven days should be revealing as Pearson prepares for Saturday’s final Championship fixture of the season against Huddersfield Town.
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