Oliver Tipton has completed his first move away from Compton Park, joining League Two newcomers Notts County on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old has spent pre-season training with Julen Lopetegui’s first-team, travelling on both camps to Portugal following a season of captaining the under-21s to Premier League 2 safety.
Tipton has risen through the ranks since first joining Wolves at the age of just 11 and signed an extended contract until at least the summer of 2025 in March.
The versatile defender, who can also play in midfield, will embark on his first loan at Meadow Lane after impressing while on trial with the Magpies.
Managed by Luke Williams, Notts County regained their Football League status in May after beating Chesterfield on penalties in the National League Promotion Final at Wembley.
Pathways manager, Steve Davis, said: “We have to try and look at the opportunities with the clubs that are interested in our players and pitch that player into the club to see whether he’ll be able to play some games.
“Notts are a big club who have just come back up and they’ve got a decent squad. Oliver wasn’t one we expected to go out, but we do think it’s a really good opportunity for him.
“We don’t want him to go there and not be involved. If we think he’s going to be able to challenge the group that’s there, which won’t be easy for him, then it’s worth him going.
“He’s going to have to work hard to get in the team and stay in the team. He deserves the opportunity but once he goes into that environment, it’s about performance and how well you play consistently.”
Tipton has been a key member of James Collins’ under-21s in recent times and although his character and ability within the group has proven a valuable asset, Davis admits that the defender deserved his opportunity to play first-team football.
“He’s been around that group for a long time down and you don’t want him to be playing at the same level of football season after season,” Davis continued. “Sooner rather than later he has to go out and be tested a bit more. Maybe it’s the right time for him to go out and be tested.
“He is bubbly and a great character around the place but, in a selfish way for him, he wants to go out and see if he can do that in a professional dressing room and against men, which is very different.
“He knows it’s going to be a challenge and he knows it’s going to be hard. I’m sure he’ll be given a role there that he’ll have to fit into in terms of their system, which will be a big test and especially at that level.”
Davis believes the style of football and system deployed by Notts will prove an ideal match for Tipton, who will be put to the test for the first time in the Football League.
“They do play and that’s one of the reasons for him going there – the style of football that they play. He’ll be expected to be brave in possession and start attacks from the back, so that will be good.
“He’ll certainly be put under pressure doing that and be put up against a lot of physicality, but he does fit their system and what they want to do.
“I’ll go and watch him like I will with all the others and it will be interesting to see how he fits into that group and team. From my point of view, that’s what I like to see and that’s the bit where I can help him from an analysis point of view.”
