What is the point of having a lavish academy then?

[steelydon]

It's worth remembering that the transfer revenue brought in hasn't always gone to the youth team, Hollands had money to spend and blew it on players we got nothing for (Elding, Zola, Donaldson), Davis was fairly well supported too and wasted money on loan signings and wages for players that were only effective short term or in cases not at all. It didn't help that we got hamstrung by a director bleeding the club for a bit either.

I think we've proved time and time again that the academy pays for itself and has given us some of the most exciting footballers ever seen at Gresty Road, what we need is a better transfer policy that brings in players that helps us develop those youngsters and wins us games.

Like very much.

[steelydon]

So we scrap the academy. We become exactly the same as fifty other clubs just trying to exist. Does anybody seriously think that the money saved would be spent sensibly? In the last four years we've brought in thirty odd players and only one, Guthrie, has been money well spent. Make Crewe the same as Vale, Shrewsbury, Bury,etc etc and for one you've lost my reason for traveling from Manchester.