Hughes stands by academy

City boss allays fears over youth policy

By James Dall   Last updated: 8th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hughes stands by academy

Hughes: Backing academy

Related links

Teams

Also see

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has insisted the club will not abandon the club's youth policy in the light of their impending takeover.

Backed by Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG), City are expected to add a number of high-profile names to their squad in the January transfer window following the summer arrival of Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record fee.

City's academy is highly regarded for producing fine talent, including the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, but there had been fears that the likely influx of experienced superstars could jeopardise the work at youth level.

However, Hughes is adamant that City will continue to stand by the academy, which has been running for since 1998, while revealing it is likely to receive a financial boost.

"The youth policy still has a role to play," he stressed. "It is important for any successful team to have a group of players who have an empathy for the club.

"We have that with the guys who have come through the academy. But we are not just going to fill the squad as a token gesture to the work the academy does.

"The quality of players has to be sufficient to play in the Premier League. That is what their work is judged on. What we have now are the means to enhance that operation."