The CCFC Academy (1 Viewer)

Lets start off by saying that this has to be the way forward for any club that can afford to do it. At one point (2008 I think) it was thought that we couldn't afford it and it was to be scrapped. That would have been entirely the wrong course of action in my opinion. The Academy is vital to the clubs survival. It is an area that clearly the Club want supporters to focus on, to create some positivity. I have always felt that the "academy" was a hidden gem even going back to 1987, since then people like Gregor Rioch have put in some great work and Jason Farndon seems to be carrying that on. So don't take this as a criticism of the idea

this is what the club recently said about the Academy in their mission statement

"CCFC is moving towards the fully integrated football model whereby there is no longer a silo model in which Academy and the first team group rarely work together. Dismantling the silos both promotes the acceleration of young players’ development and is aspirational for the younger players – they work with the first team group which includes former Academy players – therefore encouraging others to follow the very same pathway.
The vision incorporates a first team-Academy training facility – a facility that is designed and built to facilitate and future proof a Category One status. Having the first team and Academy working on the same site inspires. CCFC is one of very few clubs in League One that has Category Two status Academy. The Academy is a cornerstone of the club, has and continues to be a source of first team talent. The Academy costs in excess of £1.2m per year – of which £500K is a grant. The rest of the funding comes from club income. The Academy is not a profit centre. The value to the club is generating and cultivating talent locally by developing players who understand what the club means to supporters and whose ambition is to play in the CCFC first team."

That all makes sense to me but also raises questions I feel. Especially when you read through the FA youth development rules etc. It also I think has to be said that what the club proposes is not ground breaking thinking but more compliance with those FA rules that enables a club to have any academy. The rules themselves I believe are relatively new coming in from the 2012/13 season onwards and being updated for 2014/15 season.

- What makes CCFC Academy stand out from others? What makes it different thinking rather than just current FA model thinking? The FA go on about integrated progression, club ethos etc. whats so new about the Coventry way? Isnt it that we have to do it that way to get Category 2 and the grant attached to that?

- the costs £1.2m which enables a category 2 grant of £500k. The minimum spend is £1m to get the max grant but how are the costs broken down because if you relate that back to the accounts we have seen it doesn't to me quite fit as an additional cost with what we know. In order to make the grant application I would guess there is a fair bit of reallocation of existing costs going on rather than additional expenditure. That said the perceived wisdom is that Category 1 will set a club back a minimum of £2.3m. So in setting up to be Category 1 how do we afford it? How do we afford it given we are supposed to aim for independence from the owners? Does such an aim actually detract, at least short term, from the current first team?

- Category 1 ability is to be future proofed. What does that really mean? How does that impact on the plans for this supposed new ground. Just as a for instance category 1 & cat 2 requires the following basic facilities -
- sufficient grass pitches of various sizes to accommodate all the various age groups in the Academy U9 through to U18
- an enclosed floodlit pitch with spectator areas (not required for Cat 2)
- a designated goalkeeper area
- a floodlit artificial pitch
- an indoor 60mx 40m indoor pitch designated for Academy use
- changing rooms, team meeting rooms, guest lounge, match analysis suite, medical, admin rooms, accommodation, classrooms etc
that all adds considerably to the size of site required and the costs of such a development. Let alone the parts to be apparently sold to finance the sporting complex

I think any youngster understands what the club means to the supporters - what they need to understand is how to best play the game and maximise potential isn't it?

All comes back to finance doesn't it ....... how as the club we now are do we afford these aspirations and still fund the first team to the required level and standard, whilst being financially independent...... there is only so much money to go round even if we got the 365 day marginal incomes....... academy stars promoted to the 1st team will still want the going rate wont they?

Thoughts???

I think I am questioning both. I do not see how we can afford the annual amount of £2m+ for category 1 in fact category 2 is a big ask if it is additional expenditure. On that basis there will be additional new costs for Cat 1 of £1m are the pie and event money profits going to cover that? I don't see it

But yes I am questioning the site too. They are suggesting a one site model and to get Cat 1 and 2 you need all of the facilities above, that adds greatly to the size of the plot for a stadium but also to the costs of development and the annual costs.

What has been said sounds good but it doesn't seem to stack up ...... and if that is true then whats the point of the whole statement? There is nothing to be gained by saying what they think sounds good if it has no real substance ....... in fact you just create another stick to be beaten with.

Would be good if they could explain properly ...... but not holding my breath on that happening anytime soon