What is happening with Hartlepool United's youth team set-up? Dave Challinor discusses the changes expected

Pools have confirmed that just one youth team player, Joe Grey, has been offered a professional contract at the club for next season.

Several other youth team players have been left in the dark due to a lack of clarity from the club regarding the handling of its youth team set-up.

Lead youth phase coach Ian McGuckin is currently furloughed along with all other staff at the club.

And while there is no definitive certainty regarding the future of Pools’ youth side – first-team manager Challinor expects changes to be made.

“There will be changes with the youth set-up,” he admitted.

“There’s been lots of money invested because it’s remained a paid programme where the scholars are paid.

“That will probably change as we look at a different format but it still doesn’t hide away from the fact we’re looking to produce players and get them into the first team from that.”

With several other North East scholarship programmes as well as many Northern League clubs offering paid deals to youngsters, the decision not to pay youngsters (usually around £50 per-week) will limit Pools’ options moving forward.

But Challinor was still keen to stress the importance of the club’s youth team for the future, particularly given the added financial pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“You only need to look at the makeup of the squad to see the players who have come through,” he added.

“We’ve had Kenton [Richardson], Aaron Cunningham, Jamo [Luke James] and Josh Hawkes.

“The next couple are potentially Brad Young and Joe Grey who has done really well as a first-year. That part of the club has to keep thriving and producing players, even more so now with the finances in football at lower levels may change.“To be able to get local players and give them a pathway to the first team is vital. Our local recruitment is massively important and we can’t be missing out on players who are right on our doorstep.”