Royle Seal For Academy

By Aston
October 4 2004

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle has called the Ipswich academy priceless as Town push on for a return to the premiership.

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle has called the Ipswich academy priceless as Town push on for a return to the premiership.

Although Joe believes money can buy success but also belives success can be bred by creating a core of homebred talent which has been together for some time.

Royle has said: “I honestly believe we have the best group since United brought through David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers.

“These lads all grew up together, went on to play a major part in winning the treble in 1999 and have had great careers.

“It was around this stage last season that Norwich and West Brom both had money to spend, and they went up.

“This league is so level that I would still expect any club with £2million to spend to go up. That's why I fancied Wigan right from the start - they have two £1million strikers and I think they could find the cash to bring in more new players.

“West Ham brought in four new faces in one week not so long ago. They have the capacity to bring in big wage earners that most other clubs don't have.

“We are doing things differently - we are bringing through players worth £1million and more via the academy. They are priceless to us.

“I'm not moaning about our cash position and the fact that we can't go out and spend, because we have riches in the quality within our squad.

“Look at clubs like Bradford and Wimbledon, who had financial problems like ourselves that forced them to sell a number of players.

“We all had to sell to survive but, while they have been relegated, we are involved in the promotion race because of the number of outstanding players we have been able to call upon from the academy.

“There are more waiting in the wings. It could be over 12 months away but, nevertheless, they are there and we will see them when they are ready.”.

Source: Evening star.

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