Youth shake-up: Latics concern

ATHLETIC voted against the Premier League’s plans for a revolution in youth football.

The Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) was approved by 46 votes to 22 at a meeting of Football League clubs in Walsall.

But with set formulas for young players moving to top-flight clubs being introduced, Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy fears it may mean lower-league clubs re-examine whether EPPP means it is even worth running youth systems at all.

In some cases, clubs could even be left without anything to show when players leave for the Premier League on Bosman-style deals.

“Our main concern is, it opens the door for players who have been with us since the age of 10 to get to 16 and then leave for a Premier League club,” he said.

“Under the previous system, if we offered a two-year scholarship at that age then we would have been entitled to compensation.

“Now, if they haven’t signed scholar forms for us before they are 16, they can simply leave, with us only receiving a small amount of compensation.

“It is disappointing. There are concerns now about the viability of youth development schemes, which in the past have paid for themselves — certainly, as far as we are concerned.

“A lot of clubs will now be looking very closely at the detail.”