The full costs of the academy is well over one million pounds per year and probably nearer to £1.3m with the FA and PL contributing the difference and think was John Bowler that stated the costs to the club itself was £760,000. If that is incorrect then it's time they put the record straight. I've seen this figure regularly though.
The question then becomes why spending that sort of money on a football kickabout thingy that seems unable to produce L2 standard players after 10 or more years of so called coaching is highly relevant when the same standard of players are available everywhere with zero costs of bringing them along from kids. I suggest naming these things as 'academies' is misleading as it suggests some kind of educational and academic establishment that can measure success based on examination results. Arguably if it is then our academy will be closed down as under achieving and placed in special measures five years ago.
The fact that the club continues with a model that most think is well past it sell by date suggests the Board are living in the past and not the present or the future. It's clear there are many other places to play and practice within a short distance and coach youngsters without the need for RH and think the lease is coming to and end soon anyway which will concentrate their minds. Gresty Road is the place to play friendly matches and coaching where they can then cope realistically on match days. Its what used to be and why if it worked back then it can work now and without all the costs and FFS get rid of all those coaches that cost the earth and why have an assistant managers anyway and then each level of the academy also have manager/coaches and assistants...
In the old days there was one manager and a trainer with a sponge and I know for fact that Bill Nicholson who was the manager of Spurs in the sixties who won the League an FA cup was both the manager/coach and was in charge of the club itself too...
Unfortunately there are some people that think football was introduced in the last 25 years...and academies are essential as are all the managers and assistants we have now. They are not and time for a radical rethink. Being bottom of the bottom tier of the league despite £1.25 millions being spent each season is that time, if not when?
Can anyone suggest that having an assistant manager at our level is needed and if they were disposed of now would it change anything. ie actually improve our results? Put the money where it should go and that is towards the players budget...When the training budget exceeds the playing budget it can only end one way..