Youth will get chance at Walsall
Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has admitted that youth products may get more of a chance next season due to the financial impact of the coronavirus, but insisted that the club is still in a 'good position'.
Some academy stars had already broken through before the season was suspended, with Alfie Bates becoming a fully fledged first team player – and winning the Walsall Supporters' Trust young player of the season – while others including Sam Perry and Joe Willis made their debuts.
Now, with the future of the current season and the start of next season uncertain – and with some senior players out of contract on June 30 – Clarke says the club may have to rely more on some of their upcoming stars.
"I have the experience of working in different scenarios and being able to adapt in an ever moving financial position," he said.
"We're in a good place as a football club, speaking to a lot of managers, coaches and ex-players at different football clubs – we're quite fortunate.
"As a manager I will adapt to any needs and it comes first for the business to survive and the football will get on with things.
"Whether that looks like, we might have to go a bit younger next year, more than likely so, but we'll adapt to that.
"There's nothing more that fans like to see than players like Alfie Bates coming through the system and there might be more opportunities for our younger players.
"We'll move forward with that on a footballing side and we want to encourage our young players breaking through.
"We had Sam Perry make his debut, Joe Willis too – Alfie has had a good season as well.
"The future is bright with the young players at the football club and we're in a good position.
"We still have quite a few of our senior boys signed on for next year, so we're not in a bad position whatsoever."
