IF Grimsby Town's Youth players are good enough next season, then they are old enough.
That's the message from Rob Scott as the next crop of Mariners youngsters battle to earn pro deals and force their way into the first-team picture.
If the Youth-teamers were under any illusions about the size of their task, then the release of all nine second-year trainees at the end of last season should have put that to bed.
Plus, only one of Adam Smith's youngsters featured in a match-day squad across the whole of the last campaign.
And, following Bradley Wood's exit this summer, just two Town Youth products – Andi Thanoj and Dayle Southwell – remain as senior pros.
Progressing through the Mariners Youth set-up and into the first-team squad is proving more challenging than ever before.
However, Scott has challenged next season's Youth-teamers to go against the grain, and convince the joint bosses they are ready for professional careers.
"We'll go with the Youth players if they're good enough," he said.
"If we have any of the young lads that are good enough to be involved – whether it's due to injuries, suspensions or just because they're playing well – then they'll earn that right by performing.
"At the moment it's a real struggle for the lads to come through because where we're at as a club means we need these players to be ready to step straight into the breach.
"That's a tall ask for them, coming from Youth football straight into the Conference.
"They have to be really on it and unfortunately last year there weren't any that were going to be ready to come in and be on the bench.
"What also goes against the young lads these lads is the loan market – you can go to a Championship or Premier League club and get a quality loanee, sometimes free of charge.
"That's what they're fighting against, so they really have to be on form and physically ready to make that step up."
Scott believes that the chance to train with the first-team is a win-win for the youngsters and the Town bosses – who can take a closer look at their talents.
He added: "We certainly monitor the Youth team and if anybody is playing well, they will come in and train with the first team first and we'll see where we go from there.
"The opportunity is there for them – if they come into the club and do well, we'll utilise those players as we see fit.
"We'll be looking at them and speaking with Adam Smith about, not just their qualities, but also their attitudes as well.
"There's a lot at that age to take onboard, and they have good periods and bad periods as part of their learning curve.
"We'll see that when they come back in for pre-season but we're certainly happy to promote anybody from the Youth team if they warrant that."
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