Kevin Cooper poised to take up under-21 reins

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footba...der-21-reins-for-cardiff-city-91466-31105172/

Former Cardiff City winger Kevin Cooper is returning to Wales to work alongside Malky Mackay.

Cooper has been heading up the Bluebirds’ 1 Malaysia Cardiff City grassroots football project in the Far East but will take on a new challenge next season.

The 37-year-old will coach City’s under-21 development team and provide a crucial link between youth academy boss Neal Ardley and manager Mackay, who have established a strong relationship over the last year.

“I roomed with Kevin on away trips when we were at Norwich together,” said Mackay.

“He is somebody I know well and he will do an excellent job with our under-21 team.”

Joe Ralls, Kadeem Harris, Theo Wharton, Tommy O’Sullivan, Ibby Farah, Nat Jarvis and goalkeeper Elliot Parish are among the players set to be involved at under-21 level next season.

They will be joined by the likes of first-year senior professionals Jesse Darko, Ben Nugent, Adedeji Oshilaja and Kevin St-Luce.

Mackay is keen to ensure there is a clear pathway from the youngest academy players at under-nine level right through to the first team.

Derby-born Cooper joined City from Wolves in 2005, making 44 appearances in three seasons.

His time in Asia has seen him strengthening the club’s links with Malaysia by establishing the grassroots soccer programme there.

The fast-growing project will involve thousands of children over the next few years, with a group of coaches continuing the work despite Cooper’s return to Wales.

Cardiff do not have a reserve team but formed a development squad last season and played a series of friendlies.

Now they are planning for the newly-formed Under-21 League, which is part of the new academy system starting next season.

Youth development in Britain has been reviewed and a new strategy means each academy will be categorised at one of four levels.

City have worked hard to ensure their academy matches are up to Premier League standards.

The Bluebirds will discover next month if they have achieved their target of category two status which means stepping up coaching and education for the young players.

“The top level is virtually a boarding school for young footballers and that’s tough,” said Ardley.

“We believe we can make the grade at category two.

“We have to raise our game and all plans are firmly in place for that.

“It’s a step up for us and extra funding will be needed.

“We worked closely with the club directors on this. Our job is to make sure we are able to keep our best young players and they won’t want to leave Cardiff.

“We have some super-talented players – Tommy O’Sullivan, Theo Wharton, Declan John – and more coming through.

“When we look down the age groups we are getting better and better.

“Where we used to just compete with Premier League clubs now at under-nine, under-10 and under-11, we are beating them.

“In the older age groups, too, we feel we can match and sometimes beat the best opposition.

“It’s not about one team coming through the age groups. There are players of genuine quality in every age group.”

Ardley is responsible for around 130 young players across the age groups and will oversee the whole process.

There will be coaches at each age level as well as Cooper (U21) and Lee Skyrme (U18).

Cardiff’s flourishing Community scheme, headed up by former favourite Scott Young, is also playing a big part.

“They are mimicking our Cardiff community programme in Malaysia,” said Bluebirds chief executive Alan Whiteley.

Meanwhile, details of the new nationwide Under-21 League, where City will take on Premier League opposition, will be announced next month.

One of Cooper’s first matches in charge of the development team will be against Barry Town at Jenner Park on August 7.

Cardiff play a first-team friendly at AFC Bournemouth on the same night but boss Mackay has pledged to field a strong team at Barry.

The MacWhirter Welsh League club, who will be celebrating their centenary next season, feature former Bluebirds defender Damon Searle.

 

Interesting times DJ.

I assume Cooper's work in Malaysia is complete and everything is up and running, rather than they've abandoned the project and sent him home.

It's hard not to become overly sensitive to every action and read too much into them

The U21 set up is good news. I was reading about it at the start of last season and was impressed how seriously we were taking it. In effect we started a yeasr early to try and steal a march on other teams. The view is that we play the top U21 teams in the country to develop the skills and League of Wales teams to toughen them up.

Ardley seems pleased with the youngsters coming through. It may be another few seasons before we truley reap the rewards, but once the flow starts there will hopefullybe a steady supply with the one player making it every season or two turning into 2-3 a season. Crewe have been doing it for years.

 

Yes Remote I thought that too until I read it in full. It goods like good news.

 

Just read the bit about Norwich wanting a manager with experience at the the top level which seemingly rules MM out of the running. That would be good news as well.