Academy Category 1 status gone

[BanosSwan]

Don't agree with this.

At least if we get back up the foundations are in place to quickly get it back (hopefully).

 

[LeonWasTheDog's]

Fund the academy or sign and keep players. It's a stark choice but one we're faced with at present.

We're also paying for the decision to build (and therefore fund) two separate facilities instead of just one, but at least some people made a few extra quid off the construction contracts.

Yep. Inevitable for a club run along austerity lines. I’d like to think that they’d see the value in the academy given how we’ve relied on several former academy players since we were relegated, but it was unlikely.

I wonder what impact Cooper’s preference to look outside the club for younger talent at the expense of our own has had?

 

[Dr. Winston]

Yep. Inevitable for a club run along austerity lines. I’d like to think that they’d see the value in the academy given how we’ve relied on several former academy players since we were relegated, but it was unlikely.

I wonder what impact Cooper’s preference to look outside the club for younger talent at the expense of our own has had?

In an ideal world the club would probably have continued to fund the Academy. They seem to have tried their best to keep it going since relegation but the loss of income attached to Covid has made a £3.5m a year ongoing bill something to be seriously looked at, especially if people have expectations of players coming into the first team squad.

It's also worth noting that the two biggest sales since relegation (James and McBurnie) were both brought in at a relatively advanced age and could probably have come to the club whether we had an academy or not. Brentford also ditched their academy in favour of beefing up a scouting system and have made something like a £60m net profit on transfers over the last few years. Perhaps Andy Scott has had some input there.

 

[J_B]

A shame and short sighted IMO, given the benefits we've seen recently, but always on the cards given Birch's statement last year & the number of young players released this.
Cat 3 probably - little difference playing wise between 2 & 3 but a lot of saving.

What statement suggested that this was always on the cards? As recently as February, Birch made the following statement:

"However, I am pleased to announce that with the full support of the owners we have made the decision to continue to operate the two training sites to maintain our academy category one status for season 2020-21.

"This will then give us a breathing space to explore further options prior to the start of the 2021-22 season."

What a swine he is.

In February he failed to predict a global pandemic, lock down, no supporters in stadiums for the foreseeable future and income falling off a cliff.

He really should be horse whipped.

 

[waynekerr55]

Indeed. But Dineen told Darran we were strong in infrastructure. Or something

lol

Has he since deleted this tweet? Or is he living up to his MO and trying to justify himself

 

[waynekerr55]

Yep. Inevitable for a club run along austerity lines. I’d like to think that they’d see the value in the academy given how we’ve relied on several former academy players since we were relegated, but it was unlikely.

I wonder what impact Cooper’s preference to look outside the club for younger talent at the expense of our own has had?

In an ideal world the club would probably have continued to fund the Academy. They seem to have tried their best to keep it going since relegation but the loss of income attached to Covid has made a £3.5m a year ongoing bill something to be seriously looked at, especially if people have expectations of players coming into the first team squad.

It's also worth noting that the two biggest sales since relegation (James and McBurnie) were both brought in at a relatively advanced age and could probably have come to the club whether we had an academy or not. Brentford also ditched their academy in favour of beefing up a scouting system and have made something like a £60m net profit on transfers over the last few years. Perhaps Andy Scott has had some input there.

Yeah they recruit all ages - the Chairman is a genius and is very much stats/data driven. Hopefully we can mirror something similar

 

[Dobbie]

Indeed. But Dineen told Darran we were strong in infrastructure. Or something

We lease the stadium. We lease the training ground (and presumably can't afford to do so, hence the land owners now magically becoming the primary kit sponsor). We can't afford to continue to operate the Category One academy.

We have a League Cup and the Landore training centre.

Meanwhile the likes of Jenkins, Dineen, Morgan and others have a combined £70m or so to show for the club's time in the Premier League.

A lot of players and agents did very well out of our time in the Premier League as well as local people.

Poor control over player wages, contracts and transfer fees played a huge part. It created the situation where an unsustainable percentage of income was spent on the squad so that relegation was going to bring the whole pack of cards tumbling down.

 

[waynekerr55]

:shock:

We lease the stadium. We lease the training ground (and presumably can't afford to do so, hence the land owners now magically becoming the primary kit sponsor). We can't afford to continue to operate the Category One academy.

We have a League Cup and the Landore training centre.

Meanwhile the likes of Jenkins, Dineen, Morgan and others have a combined £70m or so to show for the club's time in the Premier League.

A lot of players and agents did very well out of our time in the Premier League as well as local people.

Poor control over player wages, contracts and transfer fees played a huge part. It created the situation where an unsustainable percentage of income was spent on the squad so that relegation was going to bring the whole pack of cards tumbling down.

And to believe they hung around drawing a salary too. Greedy bastards

 

[PatchesOHoulihan]

Indeed. But Dineen told Darran we were strong in infrastructure. Or something

lol