PARENTS, club coaches and various other interested parties are expected to learn more about how the new Jersey Bulls Academy will function this evening.
The Jersey Football Association [JFA] and Jersey Bulls circulated an email last week, inviting Islanders to attend one of two sessions they are running at Springfield Stadium tonight, firstly at 6.30-7.30pm and then 7.30-8.30pm.
Jersey Bulls have picked up the reins of the JFA Performance Centre and Player Development Centre (girls) respectively, with the JFA ceasing to be involved, although they will retain oversight of the project, with representatives on the Jersey Bulls Academy committee.
It is understood that an agreement in principle has been made between the JFA and Jersey Bulls in respect of the number of sessions that should be delivered, as well as the number of age groups covered as a minimum.
While the lead coaches and figures in charge are yet to be formally announced, that information is due to be released in the coming days, along with clarity on the training schedules for the various boys’ and girls’ age groups.
JFA chief executive Tim Pryor said that “it was the right time” to review how the association operated, following the recent departure of his predecessor, David Kennedy, as well as key figures Brian Oliver, Paul Renton, Dan Seviour and Jody Byrne.
“County football associations do not tend to run performance centres or academies in England,” said Pryor.
“Clubs would assume this role. For example in Devon, their football association would turn to the likes of Plymouth Argyle or Exeter City who would have their own established academies, and run better player pathways.
“It seemed like the natural time for the Bulls to assume this role and it’s no secret that they have long been interested in establishing their own academy to lead and shape.
“Their U18s side has been in effect for the past couple of season, with an U16 girls and U15 boys team already entering this year,” he said.
“Those steps are already being made and to establish a clear pathway through into the older age groups at Jersey Bulls and beyond is the right way to progress.”
With no further information released since the original joint statement made on 13 September, suggesting that sessions will start after October half-term, Pryor stated that he is not concerned with an time crunch.
“The Bulls have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that they get this structure right,” he continued.
“There have been various discussions with coaches and who will be in charge of the academy is up to them to announce, rather than the JFA, but at the parents evening [tonight] the Bulls will be able to provide that information.
“Some people might have concern that the Bulls will be starting slightly later than traditionally the boys pathway did under the JFA’s control.
“But the girls pathway is actually set to start three months earlier than it used to, which is a massive positive.
“They are also bringing in an U11s girls group, so there is an additional age group there.
“I’m really excited to see the progress moving forward and especially seeing how they support girls in particular.
“Dan [Seviour] and the team did a wonderful job over many years with the player development centre for girls and we are all excited to see how that will be built on moving forward.
“There are some exciting and different plans on how they [Jersey Bulls] want to go about the player selection process, so we are looking forward to seeing the academy get started.”
Additional information from tonight’s planned sessions will follow in Friday’s JEP.
