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Town Still Waiting for Academy Rules
Wednesday, 27th May 2015 21:45

Town MD Ian Milne says the Blues are still to learn what they will have to do in order to upgrade the academy to Category One status. After missing out by 0.3 per cent last year, the club remains committed to making the step up at the earliest possible opportunity but with the Premier League having carried out a review of the qualification criteria.

“The thing about the category thing at the moment is that the Premier League is still messing around with the rules,” Milne told TWTD.

“We’re still waiting for the final ones to come out. Why it’s a bit difficult is that I think we’re the only Category Two club that are applying for Category One, so they haven’t actually set down the rules.

“I think it’s unlikely it will happen until next year but at the moment, and this is from Marcus, we’re still getting the wherewithal [together] to apply for Category One, it’s all systems go at the soonest possible moment.”

He added: “It is annoying, everybody agrees with the EPPP, it’s a great system but it’s just the way they’re trying to bring the rules together is very frustrating. They keep tampering with them.”

Despite not having been Category One, Milne points out that the likes of Teddy Bishop and Matt Clarke have progressed through from the academy this season with others expected to make the step-up in the next few seasons.

“Having said all that, people may say, ‘But hold on, you’re still producing the players whatever category you’re in’.”

Milne confirmed that owner Marcus Evans is funding the academy as if it was Category One, despite the club not receiving the grants which come with the higher status.

“It’s about another £1 million,” he added. “It’s a sizeable outlay, although that’s outside Financial Fair Play, but it’s still money out of his pocket at the end of the day.”


Photo: Action Images



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topguy added 22:15 - May 27
That does show commitment to our club how many of these moaners and complainers would stump up 1 million to put into our academy but just be nice to be cat one by name though.
8

RegencyBlue added 22:36 - May 27
The decision not to go for Cat 1 status from the very beginning always looked to be very short sighted and so it has proved!
1

tags added 22:41 - May 27
And the FA/Pemiership complain about FIFA corruption an manipulation of the rules
3

topguy added 23:05 - May 27
not short sighted at the time cost effective we didn't have the money we had to make savings but ME has said we need it and is putting up the cash to fund it he should be commended thank you ME
7

itfc1981 added 00:02 - May 28
Topguy. ???? We had the money to waste on Martin, Leadbitter, Edwards and Norris.

It was an embarrassing decision that probably led to Klug's departure. Ranking alongside the Rhodes sale.



0

topguy added 00:19 - May 28
yeah well the club aint been right since relegation and payments lost we cant dish out and pay at will like when we went up, if we had not invested in infrastructure and in the playing side like bornemouth say they are going to do maybe we would not have gone into administration and recovery without massive investment is a slow process and I think we are getting to the right end and back to the big time. And im sorry but leadbitter and Norris wasn't a waste they were all great players for us with some bite and passion which a few in last seasons team could have learnt from
0

itfc1981 added 00:37 - May 28
Yep topguy, you should apologise for saying Norris is a great player.

-1

BotesdaleBlue added 08:19 - May 28
This is more evidence, if it were ever needed, that the Premiership desperately want Category one to effectively be a closed shop, limited to their own teams with perhaps the odd exception for the the odd larger team outside the top tier such as Derby County.

Of course this is not stated in words by them, but their actions in delaying the application criteria and pushing the financial committment bar ever higher to make it very difficult for smaller and less wealthy clubs to move up to Category one, says all you want to know about the aim of the Premier league, who of course run football in this country now.

Notwithstanding all of this, well done to Marcus for continuing to back the dream with such a massive financial contibution year on year, therby giving Brian Klug and his team the superb support they fully deserve.
4

RaymondovicBlue added 11:21 - May 28
I know this is a side issue to the point about our (our owner's) excellent commitment to Academy - for which we are all grateful ... but ...

I didn't follow Town as closely when Norris was a player and so cannot comment on his play - but at the time i do remember the vast majority of fans valued him massively as a player, and were gutted when no contract extension was offered so he let it run down and left.

Do I remember wrong?

Back to the story - we have Bishop and Clarke coming through - and also some young and exciting players having been signed "for the future" ... who next ?!?! What next ?!?!?
2

Bergholtblue added 13:34 - May 28
At least Norris knew where the goal was.
2

StowTractorBoy added 14:23 - May 28
Can't really fault the signings of Norris and Leadbitter as I am sure most of us wanted them at the time. I would not categorise them as great players but they were very good although Leadbitter looks a lot better player at Middlesbrough. Norris always gave his all and as mentioned he did score goals which our current midfield struggles to do. Re the Academy I don't think we are wanted and will be surprised if we get through the door but agree with others that we have much to be grateful for in Marcus Evans.
1

Warkys_Tash added 23:35 - May 28
ITFC1981, Norris was a decent player & Captain. Magilton rated him enough to pay £2M. 11 Goals from Midfield in his last season says it all really. Proper box to box effort, Mick would have loved him down here & Leadbitter for that matter.
1


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