Fears grow over future of Reds' Centre of Excellence

30 April 2008

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to secure the future of Wrexham FC's Centre of Excellence.

The club's highly thought-of youth department, which has produced the likes of Bryan Hughes and Mark McGregor among others, is under threat following Wrexham's relegation from the Football League.

Wrexham's relegation to the Blue Square Premier Division has far reaching consequences for the youth programme at the club which caters for 140 players from the ages of eight-18.

The future of young players at Wrexham is under threat because funding provided by the Football Association will be cut by 50 per cent with immediate effect due to the club losing its league status.

Having normally received a £138,000 grant, that figure will now be halved for the next two years and if Wrexham fail to win promotion back to the league, which they have graced for the last 87 years, funding will be cut altogether.

But the immediate concern of Wrexham FC's head of Youth Steve Cooper is to be able to provide the same programme for the talented players of the future for the forthcoming 12 months, and he is hoping for assistance from the Football Association of Wales.

"£70,000 is a lot of money to lose," said Mr Cooper.

"Our financial year runs from July 1 and we need money soon so we can plan for next season.

"It is bad enough being cut by 50 per cent but if we don't get back in the league, we won't get any funding, which is an even bigger worry.

"We just need to raise some money now but they key is for Wrexham to bounce back to the league because of the money.

"My argument is that it would be nice to get support from the FAW.
"The captains of the Wales under 16, 17 and 19 teams all play at Wrexham – Max Penk, Kai Edwards and Neil Taylor – and many other Wrexham players have represented their country.

"We are a constant feeder to the national team and I would say the best is yet to come because some of the under 12s and under 14s will be really good players.

"We are asking for some help because without us, who else would develop the best players in North Wales.

"It has to be wrong for North Wales football if we don't carry on what we are currently doing.

"Mark Hughes has said there is a hotbed of talent in North Wales that Wrexham has tapped into and it would be a big worry if we did not continue.

"I could not have summed it up better – and it is even better coming from him."

The total cost of running the club's youth department is currently £270,000 a year.

As well as the grant from the FA, this sum is made up of a £70,000 payment from the club itself, other grants including a donation from the League Education Authority, sponsorship and fundraising.

But as well as seeing a 50 per cent fall in the FA grant, Mr Cooper is also expecting a smaller handout from the club in view of relegation.
"We will be £70,000 down on what we get from the FA but the club's contribution will also be cut," said Mr Cooper.

"The club has to make cuts somewhere after relegation so it is inevitable the youth department will be cut, even though they do back the youth system and rely on it."

A recent audit by the Football League's youth development department ranked Wrexham in the top three outside the Premier League and Jim Brieden, the League's head of youth development, described Wrexham as "a model of excellent practice".

And Mr Cooper said it was important to continue providing a high quality programme.

"It is one thing having a youth programme up and running but it is another thing being successful. We could run it on £100,000 but would not be as good."

Mr Cooper will continue to drum up sponsorship in the coming months and about 120 of the club's young players will be doing their bit on Sunday when they hold a fundraising day at The Racecourse centred around games against Tranmere Rovers, starting with two matches involving the under nines and under 10's at 9.30am.

Separate matches involving the under 11's,12's,13's, 14's and 15's will follow in the day-long event.

Admission for adults costs £2 and raffles will be held.

All proceeds will go to the club's youth department.