We are now growing/developing and playing our own youth players. Is this better long term than bringing in a non league players or can we realistically do both ?
Interesting question.
I think we must start from a point of gratitude- because we have a well run club with two capable individuals at the helm in Simon Hallett and Ryan Lowe. So my suggestions are offered by way of constructive feedback - from an older fan who has seen the high water marks and low water marks of the club through their recent history.
I think the youth development programme is very good- could it be developed further to the point it was around 2007? Yes I think it could. It was around that time we were ‘generating’ one or more first team players per year. We had Dan gosling, yannick bolasie, Ashley Barnes , Craig noone, Jason puncheon( purchased by paul sturrock from non- league Barnet), Jamie Mackie ( purchased from non- league Exeter) coming through….
I think there is a limit to the amount of first team players a programme based purely on apprentices can develop - to hit the heights of our 2007 system ( which of course had the benefit of being supported by championship money )- were going to need a non- league acquisition programme supported by scouts.
Although this implies greater expenditure, short term I believe that it would not only be self funding , but also generate profits ( from transfer fees received)in the medium term.
Unfortunately ( and no one is to blame here- because of the clubs financial troubles in recent times) we’ve allowed other clubs to “steal our clothes” I believe. There are already examples of what we should now be doing. Wimbledon’s purchase of Aaron Cosgrove from Lewes this summer, wycombe’s capture of young Gibraltar international Tjay De Barr from Gibraltar outfit Lincoln red imps, and perhaps the most impressive, in my opinion, Accrington’s capture of Tommy Leigh from isthmian premier league side Bognor Regis town ( in the seventh tier of the league pyramid). 21 year old Leigh is currently in Accrington’s first team. Accrington manager John Coleman is establishing a reputation for developing non- league talent. The “Lancashire Telegraph” ( 10.6.21) reports:” Stanley have had very recent success by bringing players in from non- league , strike duo Colby bishop and Dion Charles both making headlines for the reds since stepping up from the national league north….”