The Millwall under-18s coach describes how the academy has profited from Romain Esse’s record sale and Alex Neil’s faith in young players as saying, “There is a really good pathway.”
ALEX The coach who helped create the £14.5 million-rated star claims that Neil’s readiness to play youth and Romain Esse’s club-record sale to Crystal Palace have demonstrated to academy players and prospective recruits that “there is a really good pathway” to the first team.
Neil has been instrumental in Millwall’s youth revolution, starting a youthful front four in the Lions’ 2-0 victory over league-leading Leeds United, including Luke Cundle, 22, Camiel Neghli, 23, Mihailo Ivanovic, 20, and Femi Azeez, 23. He also trusted 20-year-old forward Ra’ees Bangura-Williams with four consecutive starts just a few weeks after his debut.
The board has provided him with strong support, as they signed eight players in the January transfer window, all of whom are 25 or
Esse’s early teenage years were spent working with Under-18s coach Larry McAvoy, who called the sale “brilliant” for his youngsters.
According to McAvoy, “Romain has been with us since the foundation phase, since under-9s.” “He is someone who has persevered through everything.”It is therefore a really gratifying occasion for the Academy to witness someone who has been with us from the foundation phase through the youth development and professional phases command a club-record sum and enter the Premier League. All of the other coaches who have worked closely with Romain over the past two years, in addition to the under-18 staff.
For the younger guys, it’s fantastic, and he will now serve as a sort of role model.
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