I'd say both Leeds and St had more mature junior development systems so the transition was probably smoother. We've certainly taken steps to put in place the systems (Medley into head of junior development when Stuart Barrow came in) so we could be in a position to do that but nobody really knows how much work the head coach is putting in to junior development. What it would do is any new coach would have to become familiar with the juniors and that might slow down their progression to the first team.

Saints and Leeds have certainly been doing it for longer than us. I suppose there will always be some unknowns such as how much time McNamara is putting into the juniors though we were assured at the fans forum that savings would be made in other places in the business to ensure that the football side of things weren't impacted. Hopefully McNamara isn't being forced to do two jobs due to financial constraints. As for familiarity with the players that wouldn't take long given that all games are recorded.

Yeah but given everyone who wants a new coach is pointing at the performance of the first team as the reason to change you'd expect that would be a priority for any incoming coach rather than reviewing junior games.

How do you know? What if in fact McNamara is far better in that respect than anyone else, or at least as good as anyone available? To say it "wouldn't be too hard to find" is making a statement as if it is a known fact, but it most certainly isn't.

FWIW the only direct evidence that I know of is the numerous comments I've heard and read over these past couple of years in relation to signing promising juniors and these all seemed to have referred to McNamara in the most glowing terms.

So I can't sy for sure, but I reckon maybe it would be a damn sight harder than you think.

We have had academy squads just as long as Leeds and Saints so I don't understand your point.

I think he means Leeds and Saints have been taking them seriously.

We have contary to what the club is trying to spin.

Aye. They've had more success with there's in recent years compared with us.

Whether we can match their performance in the years to come remains to be seen but if you believe all the stuff coming from the club we certainly should have something to show for it soon.

Exactly investing more effort and money over a longer time.

I read an interview with Heth****ton about when he took over the club in (i think) 96 and how they started seriously on the junior development track then. See how long that took to bear fruit.

That's rubbish. The problem here was the club wasted money on lads who were never going to be good enough.

Edited.

We always have matched their performance in junior development.

So you're saying they put the money in but didn't get quality resources in either scouting (poor quality recruitment) and/or coaching (insufficient resources) for that investment?

There are a number of clubs who have produced a long line of local talent - they tend to be towns where RL is king - Cas, Fev, Wigan, Hull. I'm not sure that is naturally the case at Leeds & Saints, they have had to work at it. Certainly when they were struggling in the 80s & 90s there was nowhere near the home grown talent there is now. I'm not sure Bradford made the most of their success since SL, it will definitley be more difficult attracting talent when there are currently more successful clubs within 15 miles.

It was a scouting problem.