What does young Grecians turning down deals mean for Academy?

THE announcement this week that Exeter City Academy graduates Harry Lee and Jake Richards have turned down the offer of new contracts is certainly disappointing and has opened an argument as to whether the club are as invested in their youth as they once were.

- by STUART JAMES

The Grecians proudly boast about their blossoming Academy with graduates like Matt Grimes, Ollie Watkins, Jay Stansfield, Ethan Ampadu and various others not only going on to become internationals, or established players at a higher level, but earning the club millions in the process.

It remains arguably the most important revenue stream for the club and the sale of academy graduates has allowed City to invest not just in the first team, but the infrastructure of the football club.

As a result, St James’ Park is better, the pitch is better and the Cliff Hill training ground has better pitches and a new building boasting much better facilities than the ramshackle pavilion that served them so well beforehand.

Without those sales, the club would never have had the opportunity to reinvest, but as the Grecians have progressed themselves, some are arguing that the opportunities for those Academy players are not as regular as they once were. I have to disagree.

Firstly and foremost, such opportunities are not handed out willy-nilly. They are earned through hard work and recognition for excelling in training. Just because you've come through the Academy and reached the under-18s, or have been offered a pro deal after a two-year scholarship, it doesn’t guarantee anything. It is merely a step on the journey to where all players aspire to be: the first team.