Gregor Rioch Interview - Part 3

Chelsea have sent two of their young lads to us in Patrick Van Aanholt and Jack Cork. They're both players who have come to get first team experience...

A division below. And hopefully in a period of time they might go back and gain some experience in their own environment, in their own football club - its quite difficult in a top 4 club for a young lad to break in, a little bit easier if you're in Coventry City and you go a league below on loan... come back and you might just get your chance at this club.

I imagine it's similar to Manchester City, famed for having a good academy - something you know about when you spent your time there. But with the money they have available it must be even harder for young lads to break through into the first team - Daniel Sturridge an example.

I agree. And that's why I think we're at such a good football club. We're not blessed with Premiership money so we have to develop our own, and if you prove yourself to be good enough you will get your chance. And I think if you are a parent, bringing you're son at a young age to this football club it's a good move. Because there are opportunities here, and things do change. You get a Middle Eastern owner come in and all of a sudden things might change. The lads at Man City, if they don't make it they'll certainly get a good career elsewhere because they've been brought up the right way.

Would you say the situation is quite catch 22? Every fan wants the big money to come in to reinvest in the squad for the big players, do you agree there needs to be a steady academy in every team to bring through young players - or do you think it is possible for a team to be self-sufficient and sustainable if they just spend the money on the big players?

I think that Chelsea are trying to become self-sufficient even though they spent a lot of money early on, but they're desperately trying to become self-sufficient. I know that is their plan, to try and develop a player through each year. I think that it does come down to finances, and it's not always easy to sustain an academy at every football club. But I think that all the people within the football club who have been brought up with it - supporters directors etc... people that work at this academy, they want to see their own come through that's for sure.

Jordan Clarke was picked up from a Coundon Cockerels under 8 side. What does a scout look for in a player of such a young age?

When we go out and we watch lads at a young age, 8 or 9 years of age, they do stand out athletically. The ball does go to the better players more often, and that's what we rely on. We rely on good scouts that spot the players at a young age, and we can bring them in and develop their techniques from there. Some things you can develop and work out, some things are a little tougher. I.e. techniques we can develop and work on and manage in a game, and we can work on the physical side of it... but some people are blessed with that physical element. Some kids are always going to be quick, and some people are never going to be quick. There are certain bits and pieces. We were lucky because we had Wynter, Clarke both in at the age of 9. To have them come through to 18 is very rare, and it's an excellent situation. Some people do come in later and disappear by the age of 13.

Check Coventry City Banter next week for the follwing instalment