Burnley welcome new professionals

Connor Mitchell, Alex Whitmore, Callum Richardson, Nathan Lowe, Kevin Ly, Luke Daly, Evan Galvin

These players will now move into the U21 Development Squad group next season.

The benefit they will receive is a closer working environment with the first team players and management.

This will provide them with a daily example of the standards of performance and behaviour expected to become a first team player at Burnley Football Club.

This season has seen the Development Squad play over 30 fixtures, many against both Category 1 and Category 2 Academy opposition.

Playing Premier League clubs like Liverpool, Everton, Stoke and Sunderland has given the Under 21 players a different challenge compared to the demands of the Youth Alliance.

This is a fixtures programme strategy that is hoped to be repeated next season.

In additional to the games played by our Under 21 Development Squad, some of the players may also be given the opportunity to play competitive football at a loan club to supplement their development towards becoming a first team player.

Each loan opportunity is discussed by the senior management staff and verified that the loan opportunity will present the player with relevant challenges in relation to the player’s technical, tactical, physical and psychological needs.

Academy Manager, Jason Blake said “Each player has earned his offer a new contract because of a combination their performances in matches, the high standards of their application in training and their attitude to listen to the coaching staff and apply that advice in order to progress as a person and a professional footballer.”

The importance to remain motivated and focus was also highlighted by Blake, who added: “We know younger players have ambitions to become first team players and coaching and management staff have that aim for each player too, but we also try to break their objectives down to smaller targets.

“Our initial aim for the Scholars is to secure a first professional contract. These players have achieved that and should be proud of what they have achieved, however it is imperative that they now move their focus to a new target. “The Academy philosophy is to produce players that go on to become regular first players, so we work hard to ensure that players moving into the Under 21 Development Squad do not get comfortable as a professional but are motivated to continue their development and to become the next Michael Duff or Dean Marney.”

Unfortunately, goalkeeper Callum Jakovlevs, defender Charlie Holt and striker Lewis Nuttall will not be offered new contracts when their current deals expire in the summer.

Burnley Football Club will, naturally, fully support the boys in their quest to find another club and they are free to train with us for the remainder of their contracts.

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