Reece Staunton

If Songo'o did go he'd go with my best wishes one of the few who looked interested that Derek brought in.

 

It's a strange one. Two years left with us and turns down a season long loan in Scots Champ in favour of signing for BPA Part-time.
Weird.

 

With Kelleher, Staunton and FCD leaving I really don't see Songo'o leaving at this point. Scales and Threlkeld to leave and that's about it I reckon unless another big injury comes.

 

Unless there is something we don't know about his personal circumstances,it does seem very odd.A season in Scotland,away from his home comforts in Bradford would either make or break him,but going to Avenue seems like the soft option.

 

I remember Stuart taking a “risk” playing him (described in the T&A as such) when carrying an injury. The “risk” didn’t pay off and he was out for virtually the rest of the season.

 

Good luck to the lad, hopefully he can play regularly and kick on. It’s a case of potential not realised for us though after signing that long contract. It highlights the need for a proper development plan for your youngsters not just give them a long contract and see if they come good.

 

It's difficult when the player keeps turning down loan moves.

 

What is our development strategy for young pros then other than giving them a contract? Can’t just blame the player, when was the last youngster to come through the academy and actually break into the team?

 

We've probably been paying for Parkinson/Rhodes/Lawn not having much interest in the youth policy and putting everything into the first team. We couldn't be accused of that any more with all the contracts we are handing out.

Most clubs will use the loan system as a way of furthering the development of young players. That's difficult when the lad won't go out on loan. He turned down a loan last season and his development stalled.

Sparks has said U23's/B team only an option when we get to the Champ.
Loan's will be a key way for us to develop the youngsters.

 

I'm not sure that the main focus of the academy is to bring through youngsters for our team but rather to sell them and hopefully get a slice of future transfer fees if they make it.

 

Good point. Sparks has said that Brexit has meant that the PL clubs are looking down the FL rather than going to Europe.

 

Fair comment. Such remarks invite speculation…and then we all know what happens thereafter !

 

Sorry I ever said anything. If people make a mountain out of a molehill that's up to them but there is no mountain.

 

May have found a new career path ? But if not it’s very strange.

 

That’s a fair assessment and not a bad strategy at our level. Trouble is though most our youngsters who bring in decent money are gone at 16/17 at the latest. We’ve given our 3/4 year contracts to FCD and Staunton after graduating from the youth team and they won’t make it, our strategy just doesn’t work with youngsters who sign pro deals.

 

Where FCD gone?

 

Spennymoor.

 

The idea for FCD and Staunton getting those long deals was definitely to sell them - but we didn't even play them, so who's going to come in with a big money offer?

What is actually compelling the big clubs to pay for lads who've signed pro deals anyway? If they sign them earlier, 14-16, they can pretty much do so with impunity without having to negotiate with a zealous club looking to make a name for selling their young players for good money.

Unfortunately the deck is stacked against us.

I'm not sure what we can do in the current situation other than back the lads with deals - aside, of course, from ensuring we actually play them enough to put them in the shop window.

Part of me wonders if we'd played Staunton consistently at 18 whether someone would have eventually pulled the trigger - but we didn't, and in truth we've had a confused approach to how we handle youngsters coming through to the first team. If we don't commit to them and potentially forsake promotion, they won't attract offers. But if we do insist on blooding them and playing them regularly, we'll probably spend the rest of our days in League Two, or League One at a push.

Unfortunately for us, our confused approach has ensured a) no offers for our 18 year olds graduates and b) no promotion either.

 

Good luck to the lad.

When will we see a locally developed player play consistently for the first team?

Seems unlikely it will happen in the next few years.

 

Thanks.