Making the most of young talent

CONNOR HUGHES

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EXPLOITING the seam of youth-team products is essential to Athletic’s financial well-being.

That is the view of club director Mike Newton, who has seen first-hand the graft put in by the club’s fledgling professionals.

The struggle to maintain places in the first team – manager Paul Dickov pointed last week to college work disrupting the weekly training patterns of teen talents Carl Winchester and David Mellor – is a difficulty Newton says the club must try to overcome.

However, he also stresses that ultimately, Dickov’s job is about selecting teams he believes will win football matches.

“There is no mandate to the manager to manage the transition from the youth team to first team and then Premier League or Championship club to help our finances,” said Newton.

“You look at players like David Mellor and Carl Winchester, who haven’t had much action in the calendar year. And James Tarkowski, who has done very well, is not yet a regular starter.

“Connor Hughes is a first-year professional who has a lot of long-term potential. But how do you exploit that? He isn’t ready to play yet, but obviously we want him to make progress. How do you help these players progress?

“A development squad is one possibility, but it is by no means a magic solution. In no way can the manager be blamed. His mandate is to win today, rather than look to the future. All that matters is the next game. At the same time, it is frustrating that young guys who are full of enthusiasm haven’t broken through.

“Back in November, I joined in with two training sessions in a row on Fridays, with the players not selected in the matchday squad – players like DJ Bembo, Ryan Brooke and James Tarkowski.

“It was freezing cold and raining throughout, but without exception everyone worked themselves into the ground. You can’t fault their work ethic.”

Brooke is currently out on loan at AFC Telford but despite the best efforts of Dickov, no other fringe player has been taken on for similar spells by lower and non-league clubs to gain experience.

“Managers are less likely to take chances on young kids,” Newton added.

“Currency trading is a brutal business and so is football. It is survival of the fittest.

“If a youth team player makes it to the first team and stays there, then we have a better chance of moving him on. We need to get our average up. Maybe that means more intensive coaching of those players or a different structure – I am not sure. But it needs to be looked at.”