Phil Hackney wants to get more players through the youth system – but needs a little help from the public.
All league clubs have to make a transition from Centre of Excellence to Academy level for next season and the Reds have to pay £105,000 towards it.
Hackney is hoping that sponsors will support Stanley in two initiatives which are ‘Adopt an Apprentice’ and a Select 200 club to raise the funds.
"Every club has to make a transition from Centre of Excellence to Academy status, which has been brought in by the Premier League," said Hackney. "It’s part of the Elite Player Performance Plan and the Academy rules are a lot more stringent.
"We do meet quite a lot of the criteria – we have excellent facilities in our partnership with Accrington and Rossendale College – but we also have to work on dressing rooms, the pitches and such like.
"For a Centre of Excellence we had to pay £10,000 towards the £180,000 but now we have to pay £105,000. It won’t be a massive change from how we are doing things but we have to have a sports scientist, which we have, we have to have better qualified part and full-time coaches and we have to have evidence of sessions and monitor the players a lot more.
"Obviously it’s important and we want more players off the production line as I think around 12 apprentices have come through over the years.
"To raise the money, I am hoping people will ‘Adopt an Apprentice’ which is £500 for one season. That includes photographs, progress reports and, if the player signs a professional contract, a free season ticket for one year to watch them.
"The other way is a Select 200 Club for local businesses which is also £500 with benefits of advertising, coming to a match and having hospitality and more. We are still in the preliminary stages but it’s important to us as a club to help bring players through and any help is appreciated."
For further information on either scheme contact phil. hackney@accringtonstanley.co.uk
