TWTD understands that Town could scrap their U17 side next season due to the reduction in the number of players at the club.

This season has seen a dramatic drop in the size of the Town squad with Academy players now making up the majority of the reserve team.

The second string side which faced Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon included only two players who are ineligible for the U19s with several U17s and even schoolboys involved.

The knock-on effect, and that of the progression to the first team of the likes of Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose and Matt Richards, has been an U19 side which has involved many of the U17 squad with the U17 team in turn also affected.

Changes are on the way in Academy football in season 2004/05. Then clubs will field U16 and U18 sides rather than U17 and U19 as they are at present.

This Saturday the U19s are in action at Aston Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground. The U17s have not got a game this weekend.

U19 defender Guy Bonwick has been released and will be looking for another club once he is over a hand injury which requires an operation.

Bonwick was captain of the U17 side which which won their national title two years ago, a team which included Darrens Bent and Ambrose.

Former striker Paul Mariner, who now coaches in Arizona and Japan, has sent three of his players over to train and be assessed by the Town Academy.

Americans Richard Frank and brothers Rostand and Roland Erlichman watched Wednesday's reserve fixture against Wimbledon and have impressed the staff.

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