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  • "
    Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
    This new FL initiative is probably the reason why we dropped the dev sqaud. I completely forgot about that.
    How does the new FL initiative work though if you sack all the players that form the basis of that initiative? We were told, when Allison left, that the Development squad would be replaced by the new initiative. However, since then, we have just sacked all the young players, leaving just Baker and Brown."
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Bradford City development squad was not cost-effective, says Rhodes

6:30am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker , Bradford City Reporter

Adam Baker was the only Bradford City youth trainee to make the grade Adam Baker was the only Bradford City youth trainee to make the grade

Julian Rhodes admitted the development squad was a luxury that City could not afford.

The scheme was unveiled last summer as a long-term plan to bring through more young talent.

But it was axed after Archie Christie left the club in mid-season.

There are no plans to try again. Instead City will use their close links with the RIASA overseas project based at Leeds Met to monitor any bright youngsters.

City joint-chairman Rhodes said: “The development squad is a nice idea if you’re a bit higher up the leagues and can afford to keep it going.

“But which players have come through who were part of that group?

“We’ve got the connection with RIASA and we hope for the next Nahki Wells and a few others to come from that. But that’s not costing us anything.”

Adam Baker was the only trainee from the youth team to be given a pro deal and Parkinson is a big fan of the teenage striker.

Rhodes added: “Nahki was one marked down as not being up to first-team level at the start of last season. Look where he’s ended up.

“We’re hoping that Adam is going to be one of those.”

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