Loved watching Rico play and definitely someone worth a punt if on a relatively low wage. A really talented lad… I do have some doubts about him but certainly worth a chance in the squad.

I would go for Rico myself. He's young and he has now got two consecutive promotions on his record which I think is an indication of what he can bring. 

I’d be surprised if he Dosent end up here. Lots of potential and a great option off the bench 

I’d love him - but there will be dozens of League 1 and 2 clubs who will start him most weeks. 

Rico is a lovely footballer to watch, for about 30 minutes. The mystery is why can't he do it for 70 minutes. I guess the other issue with signing him is where does he fit in a 352 formation? He was capable of doing things nobody else in our squad could last season. Very much an artist in a squad of artisans. If we intend playing him more I hope he signs; if we think he's someone for 25 cameos from the bench it's probably best for his career to go elsewhere. 

44 minutes ago, Alan Vit said:

Here you go, Geoff, a map from when you were a lad ...

Great stuff!!!!!!!😄😁😃🫡

9 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

I’d love him - but there will be dozens of League 1 and 2 clubs who will start him most weeks. 

If we were interested, we have the advantage of being in a higher division than half of those clubs, potentially being closer geographically to his family (if they're based in Birmingham) than several other clubs and he knows the club, the manager, the squad etc. 

The disadvantage may be he seemed to be a bench option, but I don't think a starting place elsewhere can be taken for granted, so if we were interested some of those other factors may play to our advantage.

8 minutes ago, JRC said:

Rico is a lovely footballer to watch, for about 30 minutes. The mystery is why can't he do it for 70 minutes. I guess the other issue with signing him is where does he fit in a 352 formation? He was capable of doing things nobody else in our squad could last season. Very much an artist in a squad of artisans. If we intend playing him more I hope he signs; if we think he's someone for 25 cameos from the bench it's probably best for his career to go elsewhere. 

I think he fits in best as a number 9 or an attacking midfielder in the middle. I’d like to see him sign, don’t see him as a starter, yet but would be great cover should we get injuries, useful sub if we need a goal and he will improve

Rico is a player who can certainly have an impact from the bench but wasn't as good when he started games,would I sign him,yes I would IF he didn't want a silly wage because with work he is one of those players who could become a saleable asset,as someone else said though there will be many teams who will be chasing him and who will start him in games

It also has to be seen if he can do it in League One so could be a gamble

I do like him though

Edited June 9, 2025Jun 9 by werstayinup

11 minutes ago, JRC said:

Rico is a lovely footballer to watch, for about 30 minutes. The mystery is why can't he do it for 70 minutes.

I don't think it's a mystery.

The lad is 21 years old, and the last 2024-25 season was effectively his first that came close to playing a full League season (totalling 32 appearances).

(Rico made just 11 appearances for parts of games for Stockport in the preceding season.)

I'd love to see us sign Rico, with the confident expectation that he would continue to build the scope and duration of his on-field contributions as he develops further physically, and as his football knowledge increases.

I do think there will be competition for the signing, but would hope that we are in pole position, since we are on his doorstep for travel (West Brom area) and since we have already shown him what the club can offer him.

28 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

I’d love him - but there will be dozens of League 1 and 2 clubs who will start him most weeks. 

Sign as a Development player?

I also think we very rarely saw Rico start - he was rarely given the chance to show he could do it for 70 minutes! He only managed about 10 'nineties' in total.

I accept that he often dipped in and out of games when on from the start, but he didn't start a game in 2025 - so all of his starting performances were on the wing of the 343 pre New Year, when I think he's far better in a congested middle of a 352 where his ability to turn in tight spaces is magnified.

He became so useful towards the back end of a season as an impact sub he almost made himself indispensable as a bench player.

I hope that we can offer him a good pathway to regular minutes over the next 1-2 years as his natural ability is absolutely brilliant.

Just now, Fosse69 said:

Sign as a Development player?

He'll only come here if he'll get minutes. There will be other League 1 sides with weaker midfields (or play with a '10') who he could start 30-35 games for next season.

I think Rico Richards will be playing higher than league one in a few seasons. Would love to see him develop here but he was chronically underused last season and THAT substitution has probably kiboshed it I think. 

21 minutes ago, Alan Vit said:

I don't think it's a mystery.

The lad is 21 years old, and the last 2024-25 season was effectively his first that came close to playing a full League season (totalling 32 appearances).

(Rico made just 11 appearances for parts of games for Stockport in the preceding season.)

I'd love to see us sign Rico, with the confident expectation that he would continue to build the scope and duration of his on-field contributions as he develops further physically, and as his football knowledge increases.

I do think there will be competition for the signing, but would hope that we are in pole position, since we are on his doorstep for travel (West Brom area) and since we have already shown him what the club can offer him.

We've seen Shorrock,  Plant, Lomax, Walters and Dipepa come through in the last couple of seasons. They've generally struggled after about 70 minutes, not 30. All 5 are younger than Richards. He has done a season and a half with lower league clubs. Richards is 22 in September, so really:

Needs to be starting somewhere really

Needs to be able to play the majority of games he starts