Local talent spotting from 8 will continue. Note however that each year group has a minority of local talent anyway. The squad I know most about (U17) have only 2 Southampton boys (Colmer and McQueen). The rest are from Pompey (Ward-Prowse) Swindon/Bath (Sinclair and Turnbull), Gape (Weymouth), Oxford (Ariybi), Reading (Branker), Brighton (Britt), Worthing (Reed), Cobham (Shaw), Mugabi (Fulham), Rowe (West Ham) and Northern Ireland (Johns). The main changes will be increasing the hours boys have training, I reckon even U10 may be called in out of school time. Saints scouts do really well with talent spotting in the south. There may be more buying in at U12 and above but not as much as happens in London clubs. At the end of the day not many lads north of London will want to come south IMHO.
Is it true the academy leagues will become based on status and games in Europe will be available for cat 1? Also will there be a cat 1 U21 league?