Wells could have signed with Ajax

Nahki Wells’s former coach has revealed how the striker could have been playing for European giants Ajax.

Scott Morton, who coached Wells at Dandy Town and for Bermuda Hogges’, recalled how the then Devonshire teenager took a summer tour to the Dutch club by storm, prompting them to try to sign him up straight away.

Morton told the Bradford Telegraph & Argus: “They couldn’t believe his speed and skill. He was tremendous out there and outplayed their youth team by leaps and bounds.

“Ajax wanted him to sign there and then but it was a big stretch for his parents to let him go. We’d only taken him over through the contacts we had — we didn’t expect them to want to keep him!

“But it’s not surprising because he had that natural talent from an early age.”

Morton is not surprised with the progress his former protégé has made since then, with Wells now on the brink of becoming the first Bermudian to play in a major Wembley final.

And the coach credits hard work and determination as the key to the front man’s rapid rise over the past two seasons at Bradford City.

“I’ve known Nahki nearly all his life and started coaching him from when he was 12,” he said.

“Nahki has always been one of those players who gets to the training ground early. Then he’d stay late just taking free-kicks and penalties.

“I’d often end up chasing him home. But he’d just keep saying ‘c’mon coach, let’s just stay a little bit longer’.

“But football is what he’s always wanted to do and it’s that dedication that has got him where he is so far.”

Morton will be at Wembley for Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Swansea and says there was no way he was missing out Wells’ big day.

Morton said: “The first time I saw Nahki on TV there were tears in my eyes. I never thought it would happen.

“There is a crazy buzz going on and that’s before the game. As soon as Bradford made the final, everybody was just desperate to acquire tickets.”

He added: “I’ve always wanted to go to Wembley and I couldn’t miss this. A few friends are coming over with me and I know there will be a lot of Bermudians in the stands — and they’ll all be making sure they are packing a flag!”