ALTHOUGH some of Grimsby Town's Youth team stars may earn pro deals, the youngsters have been busy looking at "a Plan B."
The Mariners' second-year trainees are enduring an anxious wait as first-team boss Paul Hurst makes his decisions ahead of next season.
And even for the fortunate ones who receive an offer, the importance of building on their skills outside of the game cannot be underestimated.
That message was delivered by former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba, as 800 footballers from 60 Football League clubs – and Grimsby Town – descended on a careers event hosted by League Football Education and The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust at The University of Warwick.
Employers, universities and training companies were among the 50 exhibitors on show at 'Create Your Legacy'.
"I spoke to a lot of young players and I think most understood where I was coming from when I stressed the importance of having a Plan B," Muamba said.
They should have. In a fiercely competitive industry, around 60 per cent of Youth team players will be released by their clubs as 18-year-olds.
Even then half of those who do win a full-time contract will have left the game by the age of 21 with just 15 per cent remaining.
"Football offers no guarantees," Muamba continued, "You can be one injury away from retirement.
"And even if you enjoy a long and successful career you're going to have to finish at some point so you need to broaden your mind and think about your next move as early as possible.
"I thought my football career would last longer than it did so I was complacent and didn't know what I was going do when I left Bolton.
"Now I'm studying at university, working at The Professional Footballers' Association and gaining experience working in the media.
"My message was, 'there's more to life than just kicking a ball around', you have to engage with different things and be willing to learn new skills so that you have the versatility to be able to move in different directions – that's a path I'm on at the moment."
Find out which of Town's Youth teamers earn professional deals – read your Grimsby Telegraph this week.
