I heard a nasty rumour that the future of City’s Platt Lane Football Academy is being looked at as part of a cost cutting exercise.
Now City’s finances and level of debt are well documented, but it would be almost criminal and a massive shot in the foot to compemplate closing a top facility that has provided the life-blood of the club over the years, and particularly in recent seasons when, not to put too fine a point on it, our Academy graduates were instrumental in saving City from relegation.
For those of you who have ever been to Platt Lane (just behind City’s former and now sadly demolished Maine Road ground and spiritual home ), you’ll know that the facilties and coaching are second to none and as well as producing a production line of young talent, it is also a vital community facility.
I know that City have a duty to review the finances and look for opportunities to reduce costs just like any business, but we need to keep that Academy going for the future of the club, and I sincerely hope that some anonymous accountant isn’t just looking at it as a single line in a spreadsheet without really understanding what a vital piece in the overall jigsaw it is.
Now there have been rumours surrounding Platt Lane for a few years now and this one may just be another, but if the club are really considering sacrificing all or part of the Academy, I would urge them to think again and look elsewhere – hopefully you guys will too !
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