Welsh EFL clubs’ youngsters ‘huge benefit’ to Wales – Dave Adams

Cardiff operate a category two academy, one rung down from the highest possible level – a status enjoyed by leading Premier League academies.

Five years ago, it was estimated that upgrading to the top level could cost around £3m a year, but benefits would include an increase in their ability to recruit young players from a wider catchment area.

Swansea downgraded to category two in 2020, in order to save money following relegation from the Premier League two years earlier.

The Swans remain in the Championship and, although Wrexham are now in the second tier as well, they still have a category three academy because of how rapid their ascent has been from non-league.

League Two Newport County also operate a category three academy.

“Part of our next 10-year high-performance strategy is to try and get one of those clubs [Cardiff and Swansea] back to category one status,” said Adams.

“There’s no doubt that during the time when Swansea was category one, we saw a huge influx of players into the men’s national team, and we’re seeing many of them still performing at the top level in the Premier League.

“I think, strategically, if we get one of those clubs back to category one, it would give us a huge advantage in Welsh football and ensure that we’d keep that talented pool of players, for the future generations of success for our national team.

“We’ve obviously got a few Welsh players now in the first team at Wrexham, who’ve signed there [Danny Ward, Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore].

“But our long-term ambition in north Wales is to make sure that Wrexham can become a genuine category one academy, and they can support the domestic ecosystem in north Wales and capture some young talent back into Wrexham.”