Nicking Chris Beard from Exeter was the key for the Academy - just look at what Jay Stansfield (X Exeter Academy) did last night.
Good that Nance recognises publicly that we were 2nd Best last night and he owned up by saying that :-
“We will keep working, we’ve got some boys knocking on the door [of the first-team] but we want
more than one or two, we want six or seven. It’s going to be difficult but that’s what youth
football is all about."
Long way to go to match fan owned Exeter's Academy though (13 out of 16 players in their U23 draw with Doncaster from their academy) but in meantime our ability to spend will cover gaps until academy production rate improves.
We'll know when we are there when opposition managers give praise like this (
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/new ... ave-faced/ ) :-
“They are a really good organised team and I’m happy with a draw, their principles of play mirror everything they do at
first-team level. That’s the type of level that this group needs to get to, and I’m confident we will get there over the next
couple of years.
“It was a real test for us, they are the best team we have faced this season without a shadow of a doubt but it’s a great
learning curve for the young players.”
Like Doncaster admit I guess it will take a few years to 'hit the mark'.
PS After promotion may be we can get Jay Stansfield on loan ?