Leighton Clarkson has revealed that Rhys Williams' difficult loan spell at Aberdeen was caused by a lack of match fitness and pre-season games, and that he unsuccessfully urged the club to sign another Liverpool teammate, Owen Beck.
Williams' Aberdeen loan cut short
Williams, who made 19 first-team appearances for Liverpool in the 2020/21 season, joined Aberdeen on a season-long loan in the summer of 2023 after Clarkson had made his permanent move to Pittodrie. However, the centre-back failed to make a single first-team appearance under Barry Robson, and his loan was cut short in January 2024.
Clarkson, who left Aberdeen to sign for Blackpool in January, said he was "gutted" that it did not work out for his "best mate" in football. He believes Williams would have been a success in the Scottish Premiership if given the chance.
Fitness and injury issues
Speaking in an exclusive chat with Record Sport's 'In Conversation' Series, Clarkson explained that Williams had been struggling with injuries after a couple of years out on loan in the English Football League. He said Williams "came to Aberdeen in a heartbeat" but was not given the opportunity to play in pre-season games, which he believes was crucial.
"He is a big physical guy which was great for the way we wanted to play," Clarkson said. "He could have fit the mould like (Mattie) Pollock and Angus (MacDonald) did. The reason it didn't work for him was because he didn't play any pre-season games and was already bad with injuries."
Clarkson added that he had a conversation with Robson about giving Williams game time, saying: "I do genuinely believe that by giving him four or five games on the bounce, he'd have fit in as a middle centre half in that league."
Failed bid for Owen Beck
Clarkson also revealed that he told Aberdeen officials that Owen Beck, another Liverpool teammate and close friend, would have joined "in a heartbeat." However, the club preferred to sign another left-back, and Beck subsequently joined Dundee, where he was named in the team of the year.
"I knew his ability as I had played with him throughout the years at Liverpool, same with Rhys. A very quality player," Clarkson said.
