Popped over the road for a nose and found this interview with Paul Reid about his time as Academy Manager. He mentions about selling some of the younger players and it doesn't seem to fit in with the explanation Donald has given in interviews (surprise surprise!!) https://trainingground.guru/articles/paul-reid-managing-a-category-one-academy-in-league-one
He's full of ****. But I feel for him in that he was on a hiding to nothing with the way the club was being run.
Good read that, few interesting bits and bobs. Sounds like money wise they were cut to the bone even with the 'boardroom' sanctioning the sales of our young talent. Hope to **** we get new owners who see the academy as the first place to get new players from and develop a culture to achieve it.
It makes sense why we couldn't and can't compete in those age groups. Rest or at least majority of the category 1 academies will be spending on their future prospects (Man Utd signed a lad for €10 million who is probably on more a week than our first team wage budget) on top of that the top 4 have took our most talented players. I have changed my opinion on if this is down to the players wanting to go to a big club while we are league 1 or if it's the club cashing in. One parent came on rtg and made it sound very much the latter. Reality is probably a bit of both. Will be hard watching any of the young lads we lost make it! Sooner we get a bit further up the pyramid the better.
