RD and KM will be delighted.
The EFL has today announced a new £2.25m financial incentive for its 72 clubs which aims to assist in revitalising the fortunes of the England national team.
EFL Futures will help clubs to develop more young players within the EFL and provide direct financial rewards to clubs who regularly promote home grown players from their academies into the first team.
A sum of £750,000 per season is being made available for the next three years to reward those Clubs who provide starting opportunities in EFL league fixtures for home grown players under the age of 21 and are qualified for England (or Wales for Cardiff and Newport).
The announcement is part of the EFL’s multi-faceted strategy that was created following the release of former FA Chairman Greg Dyke’s England commission report in May 2014, which focused on the need to produce more and better home grown the players.
The EFL already plays a big part in player development, with 14 of the Euro 2016 England squad at last summer’s tournament in France having once been registered at EFL academies. However, this latest initiative is evidence of the ongoing work that is taking place to increase the opportunities available for young, up and coming players.
The introduction of the format changes and the introduction of Category 1 teams in the newly-named Checkatrade Trophy kick-started the EFL’s work in this area earlier this season and, following on from today’s financial injection, will be a focus on increasing the number of club grown developed players.
Shaun Harvey, CEO of EFL, said: “The EFL has, quite rightly, been deeply engaged in playing our part in resolving some of the key issues that were identified in the England commission report. Our challenge was ensuring we looked to address these issues in a way that worked for the EFL and our clubs.
“We are acknowledging the fact that a high performing England national team is good for the game as a whole in this country and we are therefore committed to doing everything we can to help the national team develop. I hope today’s announcement is further evidence of the EFL taking the initiative and trying to help find their part of the solution to what is a collective problem.
“To date, our highest profile initiative is the introduction of Category 1 teams in the Checkatrade Trophy and despite some of the negative attention that has almost appeared to engulf the competition, it has provided an opportunity for over 200 under-21 players to be involved in competitive football as well as providing the financial incentive the competition required for League One and League Two clubs. These opportunities didn’t exist previously.
“Clearly, there is still plenty of work to be done in this area but the provision of these additional funds through EFL Futures ensures we are on track with our commitment to make a significant, valuable and lasting contribution to the future fortune of the England national team.”
Read more at http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/efl-futures-efl-creating-more-and-better-home-grown-players-3349514.aspx#HSTvZopJdIqCfChg.99
Comments
Charlton are 7th are the past few seasons in terms of promoting youth players to the first team so might see some of this but not really a huge incentive even to cash strapped side in the lower leagues.
Better than nothing but not by much
I'm also not convinced that the difference between success and non-success (or the status quo if you will) for an England team will be the difference between EFL teams promoting their fringe youth players.
I think the change that needs to take place is root and branch, and I do think it's happening to some degree, but those are changes that take decades to bear fruit and don't make for sexy headlines.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jul/28/fa-coach-youth-award
As for revitalising the National team - good luck with that one.
The 10k will at least pay 1 week of Teixiera's wages I suppose.
The problem is the Premier League. It's become too rich relative to the rest of the league. Its helped drive up costs in the EFL but not income. Clubs in the EFL increasingly have to sell to make ends meet and increasingly clubs in the Premier League are happy to stockpile players they have no real intention of ever playing.
A few quid to 'encourage' teams to blood youngsters will make absolutely eff-all difference to anything.
Oh wait...
Isn't the idea of EPPP to give the best young players access to the best coaches and facilities? Yet if they're being loaned out season after season, especially abroad, they not going to get that coaching.
- £720,000 (£10,000 per club) towards additional costs associated with operating scholarship schemes;
This is pathetic. I doubt it even covers the cost of kit and away travel to games. Who the fuck sat down and decided this was even worth it?