Oldham commit to Academy despite drop in funding
Oldham operate a Category Three Academy
Written by Training Ground Guru — April 18, 2023
OLDHAM ATHLETIC have vowed to “continue to support” their Category Three Academy despite a fall in funding next season when they remain in the National League.
The Latics were relegated out of the Football League last season and - as they currently sit 14th in the National League - will remain a non-league outfit next term.
In the first year following relegation out of the Football League, clubs continue to receive full Premier League funding for their Academies. However, in the second season after relegation, the grant is halved.
For any seasons after that, clubs receive only the Youth Development Grant which goes to all National League sides.
In a statement, Oldham said: “As we start to prepare for our second season in the Vanarama National League, the Board has had to consider how to deal with the reduction in the funding we receive from the EFL to assist in the running of the club’s Academy.
“Our Academy has a great reputation and we see our financial investment in maintaining a successful Academy as a vital part of our plans for the future of the club. We have recently confirmed to the Academy staff and the young players in the various age groups that we intend to continue to support the Academy.
“The Board is making its commitment to the Academy public in order to reassure parents and those involved in junior football who are considering whether to encourage their potential future talented footballers to join our Academy.
“Oldham Athletic has a proud history of giving opportunities to talented local youngsters and nothing has changed. Our Academy exists in order to support and develop young players and long may that continue to be the case.”
Oldham placed an impressive 56th in TGG’s Academy Productivity Rankings for 2021/22 out of 80 teams. Their first-team manager is David Unsworth, who was previously Academy Manager at Everton.
Faced with being in non-league for three straight seasons in 2018, Category Three Tranmere announced they were scrapping all teams below the U16s because it was “impossible” to operate outside EPPP.
As well as losing their central Academy funding, Tranmere also ceased to receive compensation when U16s were signed by other clubs - which they said had happened six times in 12 months.
-1.png)
