The current under 17's age group ( first year of under 19's ) and above are ring fenced. All the under 16's and below are for the clubs to argue over

Interestingly, Netherton confirmed on twitter that 7 of the Hull lads that signed with Cas U15's were offered CoH scholarships and that there were various reasons for them doing so.

Sometimes perception isn't quite the reality.

There's no doubt that Powell is incredibly good at taking players in and improving them by moulding them to fit into his game plan seamlessly.

However, their record for bringing through youngsters isn't special under Powell. Milner & Holmes maybe, although both are 25ish and knocking around the 17 when Powell arrived. Maher? Other than that, a few youngsters have got a game here & there. I'd say a youngster has more change of game time under Radford than Powell based on the past few years.

If Hull are "awash" with overseas players, then I'm not sure what adjective to use for Cas' overseas contingent: Roberts, Moors, Hitchcox, Springer, Larroyer, Webster, Millington, Sene-Lefao, Monaghan. Hull have 7, fyi. Of course, not all count a Non-Fed, but this is a debate about youngsters & the blocking of their path to the first team.

Then look through the rest of the Cas team. Cook, McMeeken, McShane, Minikin, Hardaker, Gale, Eden - all brought in.

I'm not trying to criticise Powell or Cas, but I refute the statements that youngsters will have a better chance under Powell, and the assertion Hull have more overseas players.

the problem with academy players at fc is that you would have to be exceptional to get anywere near the first team, and with no 23s competition they want to play somewere, im sure if a future star emerges the hull coaching staff would recommend a good contract , the maybees tend to drift away and some late developers resign, it would be in fcs best interests to have their own academy at the moment,but with numbers down at youth level less likely to have many make it, surprised sheens hasn't given more game time to oakes/harris at the lower level, every game in superleague is a pressure game hence injuries only chance, it needs scrapping or reorganising so both clubs benefit

Scrap it. Now you're a lower league club again, there's no value having Rovers as a partner. We can go back to having our pick of what is a shallow player pool in the city, and you can go back to not having an academy/feeding off our scraps.

the initial idea was both chairmen wanted to save money, their faults entirely , not the fans of either club, im sure we all want the same , our own academies ,whether good bad or indifferent that's the general feeling from a keen supporter, as for the scraps no problem as long as you send the odd josh hodgson across that's fine

From FC's perspective, if we keep making finals then the money from that will easily pay for a Hull FC-only academy set up. Rovers always seemed to struggle with a focus on youth development so unless you return to SL and make a strong commitment (finances permitting) then I'd imagine it would revert back to how it was.

Neither Hull or Rovers can afford or are prepared to fund their own competitive junior set up. The RFL pay 50% of the costs of COHA whilst Hudge and Pearson personally split the the other 50% equally between them. It comes direct from their pockets, not the Clubs coffers.
It is actually a very well funded and resourced set up, though at the minute I think the players are seen very much as guinea pigs.

For those who want to see an end to the merger, I suggest they get used to it because I believe contracts have been exchanged with the RFL to extend the partnership till the end of 2022 at the earliest.

Perhaps Hull just need to be smarter and stop Rovers signing the best players!


With regards the latest crop of Scholars. I believe that COH have now been back into the community game and made some more offers to different kids. Whilst these lads may be unfancied currently, and the best players have gone to Cas, it doesn't mean follow that they will still be the best at 16/19/23. Let's hope these new lads make the most of their opportunity and we are watching them in our first teams in years to come.

Seconded.

I have no idea if this is true, but with such a clearly biased coach at COHA one certain thing young players won't get is fair, impartial advice. This is where the whole thing falls down and dishonest intrigue has never caused Hudgell much discomfort. Like the failed Sirius experiment where a couple of dobbin cuckoos wormed their way in to shaft everything. The ambulance chaser will never let up in his attempts to sabotage Hull and the chance to act as a parasite on the cheap is manna from heaven to him.

The only way a combined academy could ever possibly work would be to have a complete outsider in charge and that's not likely to happen.