We recognise that recruitment is a major factor in producing a successful Academy, so our recruitment objectives are to:

* Develop a system which will identify the best boys locally who are within our travelling time limits.

* To be very selective when signing Academy players.

* To encourage and foster the progress of Academy players through to reserve and first-team level.

Players may be invited for a six-week assessment period. Successful players will then be offered a place in the Academy, within the FA regulations for the registration of players.

This means that once a player signs, the registration is binding for the duration of the specific period, for both parties.

It can only be cancelled by mutual consent.

A player may only join another Academy, with the permission of the Academy he already attends or at the end of his contract, providing the Academy is prepared to pay compensation.

Release and retention

From nine to 16-years-old, a boy may sign for one or two years depending upon his age group and at the end of the period, the player will be informed whether the clbub wishes to retain or release him.

Release is a difficult time for all involved and we aim to be as sensitive as possible in the release procedure.

Nevertheless, release is always hurtful so we try to stress to all players the importance of enjoying the Academy experience one year at a time.

They must remeber that at the end of the day, very few players will make it all the way through to a full-time career in professional football and the achievement of playing Academy football is very significant in itself.