THE mouthwatering prospect of Bradford City meeting Leeds United in this week's Northern Intermediate League Cup final could be the last meeting of the clubs at youth level.

That is the opinion of Bantams managing director Shaun Harvey as the fallout continues to be felt from Howard Wilkinson's blueprint for English football.

The former Leeds boss was appointed the Football Association's technical director last year and has proposed a new academy system which would involve the introduction of a series of youth leagues.

He hopes it will safeguard the future of English football but Harvey believes it could result in clubs pulling their teams out of the competition.

"It appears that teams like Leeds, Sunderland and Newcastle will pull their sides out of the Northern Intermediate League and play in this academy league.

"The implication for us is that it will result in a drop in standards and our youth team will be playing good quality opponents with less frequency. So while this scheme is being heralded as the way forward to improve the technical ability in this country, our side will be denied regular competitive football.

"Our youth side are going for the 'double' of the league and cup this season and yet they will be denied the chance to play sides like Leeds in the league next year."

Tuesday's game with Leeds is sure to be an entertaining affair with both sides committed to attacking football and after beating United twice already this season, City are confident of lifting the cup for the first time since the 1980s.

The Bantams have accounted for Rotherham (3-1), Doncaster (3-1) and Newcastle (4-1) in the competition so far and Harvey is hoping for a bumper crowd for Tuesday's game. Kick off is 7pm and admission is £2 (children £1).

The City managing director said: "With it being against Leeds it makes the game an added attraction so hopefully the youth team will have a good crowd backing them.

"Leeds should also have a good level of support at the game and I believe it will be a great occasion. It will be great or some of our younger players to have a big crowd backing them.

"And it also gives the fans a chance to assess how good they think our youth team is."

City's youth team have also enjoyed a great season in the league and have games in hand on Sheffield United and Newcastle United at the top of the league.

This promise has seen three players sign professional forms for the club with two - Paul Bolland and Mark Bower - already having made their first team debuts. Daniel Verity also travelled with the squad to Norwich City last weekend but failed to make the final 14.

However all three are in contention for Tuesday night's game and Harvey is full of praise for the way the youth team, under the control of coaches Chris Hutchings and Steve Smith, have played this season.

"They have had a great season so far and could pull off the 'double'. This game will be the first part of it. Leeds are obviously a very good side and only this week lost in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup to Everton.

"This game is a one-legged affair and hopefully a victory will set up our team for the run-in to the league title."

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