Coventry City transfer news from CoventryLive as striker Danny Cashman talks about leaving Sky Blues two years after three-year deal
Coventry City departure Danny Cashman has spoken about his step down four tiers in the English football pyramid to get his career back on the up.
The 22-year-old striker signed for the Sky Blues from Premier League Brighton’s development squad in the summer of 2021, agreeing a three year deal before being immediately sent out on loan to then League Two Rochdale where he made 29 appearances and scored three goals.
Last season he was redirected out to another fourth tier club, Walsall, but only made 10 appearances with no goals before switching to National League side Altrincham where he played eight times without return. Then, on transfer deadline day last week, the player left City when his contract was terminated a year early, by mutual consent.
Days later Cashman was snapped up by his former Brighton development coach Adam Hinshelwood who manages National League South Worthing, who are currently second in the division which sits in the sixth tier overall in the English football pyramid.
“It’s a new challenge,” said Cashman, explaining to WorthingFCTV that he needed to “feel wanted” and revealing that he hasn’t enjoyed his football since he played three trial games for the club in between leaving Brighton and joining Coventry.
“Obviously I have known Hinsh (manager Adam Hinshelwood) for some time. He was my coach at Brighton so it’s good knowing how he wants the team to play and I think it’s a good time to come in. I have known Hinsh for a long time so when I was transitioning out of Brighton a couple of years ago I asked him if I could keep fit with the club and had a good three games here, and that was probably the last time I enjoyed football in terms of that highest level kind of feeling, which I haven’t had since, for whatever reasons.
“I have played with a few of the lads here before so it doesn’t feel like coming in to a completely new team, even though I am. It’s an exciting time to be here because the team are doing well as well, and hopefully I can help the club push on.”
Put to him that a lot of people will be surprised that he’s gone to Worthing, having been at two big clubs in Brighton and Coventry, and asked what drew him to the club, he said: “Probably Hinsh. He trusts me a lot and wanted me for a long time, and he’s been on at me quite a bit about that and that’s always a good feeling as a player, to feel wanted.
“That’s a good starting point to build on performances. I was born in Crawley, which is only up the road, so I am back in familiar surroundings where I can feel comfortable again and hopefully kick on again. I know it’s a step down but sometimes you have to come down to go back up two steps again, and that’s my aim. I want to do well and make a name for myself. I want to do well for this team and club and on a personal level, I want to get back up the ladder and kick on again.”