The question for the board then becomes if the academy is only producing players at L2 standard and many even failing to do that, what indeed is the point? It is costing OVER one million pounds a year including the subsidy from the FA/PL and fans talk about some of the graduates show great promise but go into any league in the world including the amateur ranks and you will find that to be the case any day of the week. The idea was the academy was there to produce PL players and of course those good enough for L1?? and of course, the million pound transfers to recycle back into the academy and so which current player(s) are in that category? If Nick Powell hasn't made it yet despite him being arguably the best one we have ever produced, then what?

Surely the board are discussing these very issues aren't they? If four years have almost gone since the last big fee and so that's 3 million of the clubs money gone and that surely can't carry on for long. I still think the academy will be downgraded within the next couple of seasons and in my humble opinion won't make once ounce difference as far as coaching is concerned. Its far too overrated. What may is parents being more worried about sending their kids here and more especially if things come out during the enquiries!