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Ricky Duncan
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Duncan: 'We were dictated to really and that’s the most disappointing thing'
Heard of the Elite Player Performance Plan?
Maybe not, but Head of Youth Ricky Duncan has, and the man who has overseen 16 players from under-18 status to the first team is determined to carry on doing so, though he smells a top tier stitch up!
Duncan told www.echo-news.co.uk: “We will need to adapt to the new rules and we will. I don’t agree with bringing the EPPP in but we will do the very best we can under the new guidelines because otherwise we would’ve just wasted the past six years. We do things properly here and that is certainly not going to change.”
Anyway, back to the EPPP which was brought in by the Premiership clubs to effictively save them money, as if they couldn't afford it, and will see a new four-category academy system from next season, with varying levels of dosh being handed out.
Fulham signed Lyle Della-Verde for around £250,000 earlier on this season, but could grab a similar player from Roots Hall at a third of that cost next time around, thanks guys!
Duncan siad: “That’s one of the biggest differences now and I think the EPPP has been brought in so Premier League clubs no longer have to pay as much compensation for young players. We were told by the Football League to just accept it as well because otherwise the Premier League were not going to give them the £5.5million funding which was due this month. We were dictated to really and that’s the most disappointing thing, but it won’t change the way we recruit our players and we have a good reputation now too, so young players will still want to come here.”
So cash-strapped Southend have to decide how much to invest, and will probably aim for the third tier where they must cough up £105,000 to get £210,000 back for a combined total of £315,000, which is believed to be around £100,000 less than the club's current budget according to the Echo; phew!
Duncan continued: "If we’re in category three then let’s be the best category three team there is. Long term we would like to push for category two (£480,000) and moving to the new stadium would help that because there’s 191 things you have to have. One of those is an indoor hall which we don’t have at the moment. But we’re not panicking about the EPPP and we’re still confident about producing players.”
Ricky has done the club proud, and we're in no doubt talent as good as Kane Ferdinand will keep appearing on the scene.
Youth Cup football at the Hall tonight: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk