Swansea City Academy in North Wales (& our youth setup)

[Wrex07]

why would Bagger help ??? Was forced out of the club! One of the reason was his posting on the site.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by Wrex07

why would Bagger help ??? Was forced out of the club! One of the reason was his posting on the site.

Losing Baggars services doesnt help if we want to progress.
Yes I am aware of circumstances around him being forced out but it is people like him that have the knowledge needed to progress things.

[Bagger Vance]

It’s too late, the board took the decision to introduce charges without considering the needs of under privileged kids who had to leave, the board set targets for the sale of kids rather than getting them to the 1st team, the board allowed the management free reign to deteriorate the service to the kids with all the best coaches leaving being replaced by mates of mates without interview or trial who no one had even seen coach. They sat there as the effort to arrange a proper games program evaporated, they did nothing when the supposed head wasn’t even turning up and watching games. It is what it is because of a total lack of foresight, lack of care, lack of application, lack of oversight and lack of a strategy. There was also an appalling lack of compassion when it forced talented kids to leave because of money when they put zero effort into looking at other areas of funding. 3 months prior I had raised money walking for the kids and they pocketed that and then forced kids out with virtually no notice by dropping £400 charges on them.

[LlayDragon]

Originally Posted by Bagger Vance

It’s too late, the board took the decision to introduce charges without considering the needs of under privileged kids who had to leave, the board set targets for the sale of kids rather than getting them to the 1st team, the board allowed the management free reign to deteriorate the service to the kids with all the best coaches leaving being replaced by mates of mates without interview or trial who no one had even seen coach. They sat there as the effort to arrange a proper games program evaporated, they did nothing when the supposed head wasn’t even turning up and watching games. It is what it is because of a total lack of foresight, lack of care, lack of application, lack of oversight and lack of a strategy. There was also an appalling lack of compassion when it forced talented kids to leave because of money when they put zero effort into looking at other areas of funding. 3 months prior I had raised money walking for the kids and they pocketed that and then forced kids out with virtually no notice by dropping £400 charges on them.

Aweful.

Out of interest Bagger are the main exponents of this still at the club or did they leave?

[jonesfach]

The problem with taking money out of the first team budget, it may open the door to relegation, as we would not be able to compete. That would be catastrophic would it not?
Whats done is done now and this league has evolved drasticaly over the last 5 years. We have got to look forward and make the right choices for the here and now.

[Junior Shabadoo]

Originally Posted by LlayDragon

It's not going to happen overnight, particularly when the club has shown so much neglect to anything other than the first 16.

I remember there were posters sneering on here when the statement came out from Barrow saying that all they had to show from millions invested was new floodlights and a boiler. Whilst we've never had that sort of funding what have we got to show from continuing to plow every penny into 16 non-league journeymen?

When people still don't get it after years of rinse and repeat there's no hope of getting through. If this was in exchange for a souped up first team squad it would be justifiable, although I still wouldn't agree with it. But to have put our entire club on ice for an 18 man squad that has Nicky Deverdics in it isn't quite another. The club now is a fur coat and no knickers operation and it isn't even a nice fur coat. I've reached the point where I'm thinking it's not worth it.
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[Bagger Vance]

Originally Posted by LlayDragon

Aweful.

Out of interest Bagger are the main exponents of this still at the club or did they leave?

Only one gone who has a case to answer is Andy Davies - the board are still there

[LlayDragon]

Originally Posted by Bagger Vance

Only one gone who has a case to answer is Andy Davies - the board are still there

Depressing.

[lookingin]

Originally Posted by Bagger Vance

It’s too late, the board took the decision to introduce charges without considering the needs of under privileged kids who had to leave, the board set targets for the sale of kids rather than getting them to the 1st team, the board allowed the management free reign to deteriorate the service to the kids with all the best coaches leaving being replaced by mates of mates without interview or trial who no one had even seen coach. They sat there as the effort to arrange a proper games program evaporated, they did nothing when the supposed head wasn’t even turning up and watching games. It is what it is because of a total lack of foresight, lack of care, lack of application, lack of oversight and lack of a strategy. There was also an appalling lack of compassion when it forced talented kids to leave because of money when they put zero effort into looking at other areas of funding. 3 months prior I had raised money walking for the kids and they pocketed that and then forced kids out with virtually no notice by dropping £400 charges on them.

Bagger has raised some very valid points which has started the decline of the youth system at the club. Many fans have an opinion some being for and some against on the youth set up but personally I'm for the system and I think the club has been very poor in supporting and promoting the work of many stakeholders in the youth set up - coaches, players and importantly parents who travel all over to support their child in playing for out club.
We have a proud history in this area and are admired by many current football league clubs for our system but times are hard and money needs to be secured for the first team but we overlook that much our recent transfer income has come from academy players (bar moult and vose). The system has run sufficiently over the last few years despite parents contributing to fees but for this to continue you need to be providing a service as with any business interest and unfortunately this is the area where we have been poor.
It's an important time for the club and many would say a make or break year (every season is make or break) after blowing our best chance in years but the board in my opinion need to be clear in there aims and objectives for a youth system. The new managers only coaching experience is in this area so will hopefully as positive ideas but the fact that the youth team players which have been offered an apprentership are not being paid is worrying. We are effectively asking them to work for 2 years unpaid. Some would say that whilst it's there choice it has a touch of desperation and money pinching from the club and even modern day slavery. Previous comments made about Solihull Moors and the thinking outside the box of our cross border rivals and Welsh premier league academies says that we are fast loosing pace with ideas and strategies to develop our system but importantly remain a credible outfit.

I for one hope the club continue appoint the new head of youth wisely and support the centre and find a small amount of money to pay our new scholars.
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