Clubs already sniffing around our young talent.

[arcadia]

An amazing turnaround really.

Some people wanted him sacked last season!!

(If you don't believe me, check out the Exeter thread from last season as one example.)

Idiots wanted him sacked I have knocked him a couple of times but never to sack him he did a bl--dy good job last season and should he have had the job in October we would have stayed up.

[cambgull]

Considering Young supposedly turned down a League 1 to come to us makes me think we have a player in the Eunan mold. I think he'll take time to think about his options and work out what would be best for him. I would be surprised if you see him jump ship at the first opportunity.

[ferrarilover]

It's being reported on Twitter (retweeted by Levi himself) that "a number" of PL and Championship clubs are already monitoring him closely. The article (such as it is) suggests that this is because of his performances for Ireland in the Milk Cup. It's all written in a style which suggests that the author knows little more for sure than Levi exists and has basically guessed at the rest and told us nothing we didn't already know.

Still, nice for the kid to get a mention.

Matt.

[StretfordGull]

Do we know if Levi has signed a contract yet? If not, would he be able to leave for next to nothing?

[Mattpuma]

It really would be a false economy to sell any players while we have a great chance of promotion. The rewards for regaining League status far outweigh the financial boost of any transfer fee we are likely to receive at this moment in time.
Now is the time to be brave and go for promotion as it will get harder with each passing year.

[supergulls]

Do we know if Levi has signed a contract yet? If not, would he be able to leave for next to nothing?

As far as I'm aware Levi has not signed his contract yet. And I should imagine on advice from his agent he won't be in any rush either, as it's more beneficial for him not to be tied to a pro deal if as reported premiership clubs are monitoring him.

[supergulls]

Do we know if Levi has signed a contract yet? If not, would he be able to leave for next to nothing?

As far as I'm aware Levi has not signed his contract yet. And I should imagine on advice from his agent he won't be in any rush either, as it's more beneficial for him not to be tied to a pro deal if as reported premiership clubs are monitoring him.

[arcadia]

The Chairman needed to have made a judgement on Levi two months ago it's to late now. What nieve people we have running our club.

[ferrarilover]

The Chairman needed to have made a judgement on Levi two months ago it's to late now. What nieve people we have running our club.

Yup, you're absolutely right, that really is the only possible answer. :}

Forever Dave will know better than I, but I guess, for whoever asked, that he'd be subject to the EPPP system and the rules governing that. I never bothered trying to understand it, but Dave seems to be the guru.

Matt

[Dave]

With EPPP there is a fixed transfer tariff for players U18 and that level depends on what status the academy is . As a level 3 academy I believe the figure would be £12500 per every year the player has been at the academy, our relegation does have a small effect on this as well, had we still been in League 2, 10 plus appearances would have entitled the club to a further £5000, but hey the club got relegated out of the league.

What I do not know is what type of contract Levi Ives is currently on, is it an Academy contract, or youth professional, also I do not know whether that would make any difference as he is a U18 player.

[arcadia]

With EPPP there is a fixed transfer tariff for players U18 and that level depends on what status the academy is . As a level 3 academy I believe the figure would be £12500 per every year the player has been at the academy, our relegation does have a small effect on this as well, had we still been in League 2, 10 plus appearances would have entitled the club to a further £5000, but hey the club got relegated out of the league.

What I do not know is what type of contract Levi Ives is currently on, is it an Academy contract, or youth professional, also I do not know whether that would make any difference as he is a U18 player.

What we deserve to be told if he is being lined up for a move is have the club done the best possible things for the club should he move on. In other words is he on the best possible contract a youth player
could be on as you are saying. It is questionable if he should not be in the first team.
If the club are not going to get anything out of him moving on they might as well let him leave now as he's here for the benefit of the club not to be transferred when someone else spots you've found a good player.

[Dave]

With EPPP there is a fixed transfer tariff for players U18 and that level depends on what status the academy is . As a level 3 academy I believe the figure would be £12500 per every year the player has been at the academy, our relegation does have a small effect on this as well, had we still been in League 2, 10 plus appearances would have entitled the club to a further £5000, but hey the club got relegated out of the league.

What I do not know is what type of contract Levi Ives is currently on, is it an Academy contract, or youth professional, also I do not know whether that would make any difference as he is a U18 player.

Been in touch with a friend who knows a hell of lot more on this subject than me, his view is the same, if Levi Ives is on a standard youth scholar contract which I believe he is, our club would only be entitled to the fixed compensation (x) how long he's been with the club, which could leave us in a position where the club receives more upfront compensation for Neil Osborn who I believe has been at the club for a few seasons longer than Levi.

[Dave]

Arcadia I do not think any blame here can be attached to the club or in fact the player, the club as they've always done with our best young players will have moved to protect their investment and offer Levi a scholar to full professional contract, ultimately they can not force the player to sign it, I can not say this as fact because I just do not know, but if as I suspect Levi has been offered a new contract and Levi hasn't signed it's highly likely the young lad is keeping all his options open, and none of us can seriously blame Levi for that.

There is, as I'm sure you know so much risk attached when it comes to young players, in my own experience as a youth football coach at local level and I've gone from U8 to currently working with U18 as well as spent a short time scouting for a development school, the picture can change very, very quickly with young players, as player grows his technical, physical or mental development can stagnate, on the flip a player who wasn't developing can suddenly find it all clicks into to place there's no of way knowing, when a pro club takes on a player it's a gamble.

Taking it back to our club, the evidence is there in the number of false dawns we've seen in players who've broken into the staring line up since our youth programme re-stared in 2007 and yet for one reason or another it hasn't worked for them, Levi Ives might be faced with huge decision, and I'm sure he's getting good advice, but if he's is about to be offered a chance to move to a PL club, it might be the one and only chance he gets , his own development might stagnate, it shouldn't do, but again who knows, and there's always the possibility of serious injury, if gets the chance and takes fair play to the lad, only problem for our club is the only way we'll see big money from it, is if he makes their first team.

[arcadia]

I can agree with a lot of what you are saying and I have had a lot of experience and winning the Somerset floodlit youth league a couple of times before taking on a clubs first team.
I have spent years scouting for players and can tell you Levi is not a gamble he's got most things a pro. needs and Chris Hargreaves knows it.
Levi could easily make the first team this season as he is the best left back in the club but does not quite have the strength yet.

[Dave]

Hadn't meant to suggest Levi Ives was a gamble, I was more referring to young players from 8-18 in general.