28-05-2024, 04:00 PM
(28-05-2024, 01:46 PM)Isley46 Wrote: I heard that there was a development plan in place for the Academy under Cowley but this strategy was dropped / changed when he was replaced and the target understandably changed to being get promoted to the championship at all costs (hence the change in direction for U18's not having training minutes with first team and Zesh not returning to the Academy).
Next season it will be to stay in the Championship at all costs - so no change to the Academy situation.
The Palace academy development was possible because they had available space to develop into (albeit across the road from the first team training ground) - Pompey doesn't have that luxury at present and being on the island, space is very limited. Roko has been purchased so unless they are looking to build a specific Academy location away from Roko nothing will change short term. if anything the only way an U21 will be accommodated is if the U18's and below are scrapped and the 'B' team model is adopted for the U21's - which could be more beneficial to the club but doesn't promote a community spirit which the club is know for.
I'm still hopeful that we will join up with the Rugby Club, pay for Covers to relocate and join up to create a space big enough for most of what we need. There is also the ongoing question about St Johns. Presumably not allowing a stadium, but training pitches and space for the public to use too would be good. Might depend on Labour's plan to order building houses on "green spaces on the edge of conurbations.