I don't know if this makes me a conspiracy theorist, but if you compare the sum of young kids interested in playing football who don't have an ex-player as a dad (hundreds/thousands/millions depending how wide you cast the net) with those that do have an ex-player as a dad (a dozen or so in any generation, maybe) then there does seem like far more young players in our academy that do have an ex-player as a dad than you would expect. Considerably more, like it's the biggest advantage you could possibly have.
I just seem to remember him getting game time at the end of the season prior to leaving. And thought he was a highlight of the team during that period. I definitely saw summat in him, That I thought deserved another contract.