Healthy investment . It also gives the kids a better deal than they had in the old apprenticeship Days.
Agreed However, with many local rivals having Acadamies, they would have more chance of attracting local youth talent than us. If the club's stated aim to produce and field homegrown players in the future is to be realised, retention of the academy is imperative.
RE: Agreed We were one of the first to have one and for a few years were attracting some of the best youngsters in the area. Now it's just a more expensive version of the Northern Intermediate set up.
you're right - but... while having the academy while others didn't put us ahead of the rest, we need it now to keep on par as one of the best places for young footballers in the area. definately worth having IMHO
I feel the same way i dont think we are producing enough so called (MILLION POUND PLAYERS) we have the glimpses of talent but just seem to fade out.
waste of money Dale Tonge: on loan Robbie Williams: on loan Nicky Wroe: contract terminated Neil Austin: Reserves Anthony Kay: Manager clearly doesnt want him Rob Atkinson: Reserves (N)
haha i hate to admit it but i tend to agree, i cant see us making that extra special player with the simple fact that bigger clubs will find better talents via scouting and other means. What is more does anybody know roughly how much it is costing BFC to run each year?
The academy has been mis managed for a few years. How many of the younger players have been out on loan for a good 6 months to an ale house team in the previous years?
abart 250k a year so I understand. so likely abart 100k a year more than a non acadamy, lower quality set up. Cant believe the amount of whittering on about such a relatively small cost.
i can see what you mean when our only revenue came from the sale of young scotty flinders. The other decent players that have come up through our system have all looked below par (kay and austin besides). maybe the system could do with a new makeover, i feel that this current one is starting to get a little dated.
