Assistant manager Chris Hutchings says it’ll take clubs of Town’s size three or four years to build a squad capable of comfortably fulfilling all their U21 and U18 fixtures. The Blues lost 2-1 to Swansea in their first U21 Professional Development League Two — South game on Monday with several of the team having been in the U18 side which beat the same opposition 4-1 on Saturday.

Hutchings said: “It’s going to take about three or four years for clubs to build up big enough squads to actually fulfil this criteria.

“The big clubs, the Tottenhams, who have got 50 or 60 pros, they can carry it, but unfortunately, we can’t.

“It’s something that we need to work on and build on. The academy has to work at that and develop them and get them through.”

He feels that travelling to South Wales for what are essentially reserves fixtures — three overage players are permitted — is a touch absurd but says it comes with the territory of opting for a Category Two youth set-up with Category One U21 sides also playing games on a national basis: “It is [a bit ridiculous] but there’s an U21 criteria that we have to fit into.

“I think it’s Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday that you’ve got to get the games in and we haven’t got a big enough squad.

“We have our youth team playing on a Saturday and if we get three injuries, that decimates the U21 squad.”

The former Chelsea full-back says one side effect may be that players might be kept on simply to make up the numbers but that time will tell whether the new system helps more youngsters progress into the first team: “That’s all in the melting pot.”

Photo: Action Images

shoopdelang added 06:35 - Aug 23 Keeping players on to make up number is not a bad thing. Gives late developers a chance to prove themselves in my opinion which in utrn benefits the player and the club. P.s Hutchings needs to cheer up look at the state of that picture
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itfcjoe added 07:44 - Aug 23 It's a bit annoying that this has caught them out as we knew it was coming last year. In the last 6 months we've released (or offered paltry contracts by all reports to) 4 players who are now in comparative u21 squads. Cody Cropper at Premiership Cat 1 Southampton (who started v Sunderland u21 on Monday) Caolan Lavery and Callum Bennett at Champ Cat 2 Sheff Weds Jide Maduako at Champ Cat 2 Leicester These 4 players would have been relatively cheap to keep on and could have played for the u21 squad and if progressed and impressed knocked on door for first team. Will any of them make it? I don't know but I'd be amazed if Lavery doesn't play league football anywhere by end of next season

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walberswick added 07:51 - Aug 23 "If we get three injuries, that decimates the squad.”
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Jimmys_Law added 08:32 - Aug 23 @itfcjoe, I agree with you to some extent in that these players could still have good careers ahead of them in the championship of premiership, and maybe we should have paid more to keep them on. However, Caolan Lavery had a trial at Sheffield Wednesday but couldn't agree terms and I think he has gone to either Kilmarnock, Falkirk or Cork City. As for Cody Cropper, he had a trial at Southampton but I think (correct me if I'm wrong) he has gone back to the MLS with Chivas or some other team. P.S. Walberswick, haven't seen you on here in a long time.

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Blue041273 added 08:33 - Aug 23 It's been clear for a while that PJ and his management team have no real interest in youth development and CH's negativity comes as no surprise. Given that there is no effective reserve team programme we should be embracing the under 21 league not knocking it down before it has hardly started. We will not derive any real benefit from this initiative until the Manager gives it his wholehearted support. Sir Bobby Robson is the example for PJ; he recognised the importance of the youth development programme and took a personal interest in the players in it with results evident to everyone. With the return of Bryan Klug we should be building up this programme not focusing on the downsides.

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walberswick added 08:47 - Aug 23 Let out of the Maudsley in time for the new season.
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itfcjoe added 08:59 - Aug 23 @Jimmys law Caolan Lavery played for the Sheff Weds development squad at the weekend and is signed for them http://www.swfc.co.uk/news/article/owls-ambitions-296522.aspx Cody Cropper started in Southampton's game v Sunderland on Monday in the Cat 1 league I think in football at the moment with the influx of foreigners (and potentially Prem loanees) players don't come through at 18 any more, tends to be 19,20 & 21 so we are being very short sighted in getting rid of these kids at 18. Even Russell Osman said a scholarship should be 3 years so why don't we try and effectively do that with our players, give them an extra year in U21 league to really be sure - costs would be low

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itfcjoe added 08:59 - Aug 23 Sorry here's Cropper link http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/u21-report-saints-3-2-sunderland-324293.a
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brian_a_mul added 09:39 - Aug 23 Its a tough one. If young players feel they have a better opportunity to play more first team games at a lower league than thats their decision. Its up to the clubs in the new set up to show young players that they will get a chance if they are good enough. This is one of the reasons Im delight PJ and the club are taking a youthful approach to the first team. Its more likely to give young players the incentive to stay and fight for a place in the first team squad!

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Luggworm added 09:48 - Aug 23 I don't know, but I believe that players like Lavery and Bennett thought they were going to get contracts like those doled out to Eastman, Brown, Clarke etc under Keane. The club realised that they were paying these lads way over the odds and had to lower the contracts offered to more reasonable levels. Hopefully a more sensible approach to the academy now prevails under Klug and we will see it progress.

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Jimmys_Law added 10:02 - Aug 23 Yep you're right itfcjoe. Sorry 'bout that. I'd read about Caolan Lavery possibly joining Kilmarnock here, http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/20030/lavery-set-for-kilmarnock but you're right he has gone to Sheffield Wednesday. And with Cropper I had read that he was having a trial with the Seattle Sounders but again, that is outdated and you are correct. I think that it's a shame we couldn't keep both of the here for a couple more years as you suggested but at the same time I think we should trust the judgement of Jewell, Evans, Clegg and all the staff at our club.

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Behind_Enemy_Lines added 10:14 - Aug 23 The next generation is the future of this club not only in playing staff but supporters as well sadly this club at the present time fails to recognise this!!!
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PhilTWTD added 10:37 - Aug 23 Jimmy's Law Kilmarnock thing broke down, don't think they could agree compensation with us. Joined Wednesday in May: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/20755/lavery-joining-sheffield-wednesday Bennett hasn't joined anyone yet, as far as I'm aware. Has been offered terms by Forest and Wednesday, as well as spending time on trial at Doncaster recently, but hadn't made up his mind where to go last I heard.

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Stourbridgeblue added 11:09 - Aug 23 It could also have a knock on effect for League 1 & 2 clubs as Championship sides will no longer be releasing or loaning so many of their 19 year olds.
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Jimmys_Law added 11:10 - Aug 23 Thanks for that Phil. Shame about Lavery but there's still time for Bennett to come back here if he is local and can't decide where to move to.
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brian_a_mul added 11:38 - Aug 23 Behind Enemy Lines, i can see what you mean but the club are in the process of going back to youngsters with an eye on the future/ next generation. We have alot of young and improving players (Smith, Loach, Cresswell, *Hewitt, Hyam, Carsom) in the team with some more expected to break through shortly (Murray, Lawrence, Whight). * Hewitt; when he returns fit from injury* Bringing back Klug and re-organising the youth set up (with former players for staff) will definitely help bring the supporters back on board! I think the club are doing alot at the moment to improve Ipswich Town from top to bottom.

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Jimmys_Law added 11:51 - Aug 23 ^ and JET and Ainsley. Though I'm not yet convinced by Ainsley.
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