St Ouen and St Clement will create a development group of players with a view to sending some on to Leeds and help them further with their development.
The move will be two-way with Leeds United’s coaches coming to Jersey to work with coaches and therefore help raise standards all round.
Leeds are the second professional outfit to make this move following last week’s official link-up between Southampton FC and the Jersey Football Association’s Centre of Excellence.
The Leeds move has been orchestrated by Jersey resident Charlie Daze, a Leeds scout, and Island manager Peter Vincenti.
St Ouen official Steve Pallett said: ‘Charlie and Peter have done the majority of the work on this matter and both clubs are grateful to them.
We will be sister clubs for Leeds and an agreement is to be set up to run for ten years.
‘This is certainly a fantastic idea for us; I’ve been focusing recently on getting a minis section up and running at St Ouen as well as the club moving towards gaining Charter Standard status.
‘This all ties in and it’s given me the incentive I needed to remain in football following recent events when I stood down as first-team manager.
‘This move is not in opposition to the JFA.
We want them in the circle with us and by that I mean when Leeds’ coaches come over the opportunity will be there for all coaches in Jersey to get together for sessions and not just those from St Clement and us.
‘This partnership is for everyone.
We’ve had a meeting and put our ideas together, we know what we want to do and where we’re going.
‘Our aim is to improve the coaching structure on the Island and that will help improve the overall standard of minis and junior football.
‘If Leeds get one player out of this scheme then they will be more than happy.’ So how will the Football Association’s 70-mile radius catchment area rule be overcome? Pallett said: ‘This has been looked into.
It does exist but it is not cast in stone.
It’s a little bit unfair to us because of our location and I believe it will not be a stumbling block for us.’
