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[MikeSB]

First of all let me say I do not disagree with any of you wanting the Academy downgraded. Mike it is not 600k, it is 750k.

But I honestly believe that the coaching system at the academy is more than poor. It appears there is too much emphasis on the technical abilities, plus constantly reminding the lads the important thing is playing the game fairly. Winning the game is not important. No argument with that until the lads reach 15, but then they should face the hard reality that the professional game is hard physical and mean at times. There should be far better preparation from that age. I believe this is the major problem with the academy, and why most of our graduates are not capable of coping with professional football. In the last 2 years how many of our academy graduates have been able to cope with the physical aspect of league2 football? One, Perry NG.

I think their is very little prospect of the Academy being downgraded if we retain league status. The board are not going to change. They still have the mindset that the Academy is more important than the first team. Then you have what I believe is the majority of the supporters who want "our boys" to be in the team irrespective if they are good enough or strong enough. They are going to support the Board no matter what when it comes to the Academy.

What I find most annoying about them is they cannot stand the established pros who sign for us. They constantly find fault with them because they are taking a place in the team that could be filled by "one of our boys". They cannot understand that if the balance was right it is these seasoned pros that would bring on "our boys" if they were good enough. Sadly they are not.

Hi Luckour, Yes I know its 750K but I stated 600K to allow 150K go be spent on a mini academy probably like most clubs have and last time I looked even the Cat3 EPPP academy costs were substantially lower and just need to add rider for all those including Dario that the higher the category,the better the coaching which they believed would produce better quality players? If that was true, where are they been over the last 5 years? One decent coach is all that is needed and so get rid of most of the academy staff and do what Dario did at first. Its not actually that difficult but they will have to give them notice soon or be faced with a huge compensation bill. ie its no good leaving it to next season as we may be down by then! I hope not but that is what strategic planning is all about. Looking at other options and not sure the board has done that and had they all been Directors in business they would have been sacked by now!

The Directors thought L2 would be easier for academy graduates and shows how out of touch they are..