Exclusive: Louis Britton sets record straight over fitness, Bristol City exit and Nigel Pearson

Louis Britton claims he was "thrown under the bus" following Nigel Pearson's criticism of his fitness and believes he was never given a fair crack of the whip among the senior set-up before his release.

The young striker, who recently signed for Cork City, saw his three-year spell at his boyhood club come to an end this summer when he was released on a free transfer. It came just over a year after realising his dream by coming off the bench to score against Brentford in a 3-1 defeat towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

For Britton, he and many supporters thought that moment would be the catalyst to help force his way into the first-team, after becoming one of eight academy prospects to be handed his debut towards the end of last season. It was the next step in his journey from working as a painter and decorator alongside his dad Geoff and plying the trades of non-league football with Cadbury Heath, Brislington and Mangotsfield United before City picked him up.

Like most talented youngsters coming through the ranks in BS3, Britton had to earn his stripes before making his debut. He'd had loan spells with Yate Town, Bath City, Torquay and Stockport. He had scored 16 goals for the U23s before knocking home Tomas Kalas' header across goal to mark his only senior appearance for the Robins.

It was what followed that left Britton bewildered, frustrated and wanting to have his say on how he felt he was left hung out to dry. In September, four months after his debut, Pearson went public with his reasoning for leaving Britton out of the senior side at the beginning of the new season by claiming his fitness levels weren't up to the required standard to make the step up.

He said: "If he's going to be considered at first-team