There Are More Players Coming Through - Rioch

Last updated : 29 October 2013 By Covsupport News Service

Coventry City Academy Boss Gregor Rioch has said that there are more players coming through the Academy's system that they have high hopes of making the first team.

Currently, there are seven members of the first team squad who have come through the Academy and Rioch told the Coventry Telegraph's Andy Turner: "We’re working on the next crop of lads and already seen a couple come into the spotlight a little bit.

“Those in Ryan Haynes’s age group and our second-year apprentices are all desperate to earn a place and we will just keep working at that next group.

"And the good thing is we’ve got a good platform to do that now that the Higgs is pretty much settled, and that we’re back there because it’s a good environment to work from."

Not only do the Academy players have Steven Pressley take training twice a week but unlike many clubs, they integrate with the first players as well and Rioch added:“It works really well because the apprentices all have breakfast and lunch at Ryton and integrate with the senior pros and staff and then get a mini-bus to the Higgs to train.

"We weren’t able to do that before because it wasn’t embraced but the manager has embraced that and it has worked really well.

“The young lads being around the first team means they can smell it and that’s good. We’re really proud of all the boys who get on the pitch and raise the profile of the Academy, which is a good one to be at.”

More on this:http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-academy-boss-gregor-6250902