Town chairman David Sheepshanks says that earlier reports of the Academy budget being cut by a third greatly exaggerated the situation. Sheepshanks said that as everywhere else in the club money is tight for the Academy, but the club's commitment to the development of youngsters was unchanged.

Sheepshanks said: “It is not true that the budget will be slashed by a third. The Academy, like all other departments at the club has to tighten it's belt, and Derek Bowden and I have had chats there with Bryan Klug, the director and other senior staff, about just that.

“We're looking at somewhere under 10%, the trimming of certain administrative areas in the budget but it won't make any difference to the overall operation of the Academy. I can assure you it makes no difference to the commitment of the board of directors and the club to our overall youth development.

“The Academy is one of the core planks in the future of the club. It is the most phenomenal success story. It is commonly rated around England and in Europe as one of the best academies there is and we want to do nothing else other than maintain our investment in it.

“We've got to get this in perspective. In the financial position we are in, of course, we look to trim what we can in every area of the club, but the overall commitment to youth development and the Academy is undimmed.”

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