Jennings talks up talent
Last Updated: 06/10/16 12:20pm
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Huw Jennings is confident the Nike Academy can continue to rebuild bridges for young players looking for an avenue back into pro football.
Skysports.com's James Dall spoke to Nike Academy director Huw Jennings about his aims for the new season
Huw Jennings is confident the Nike Academy can continue to rebuild bridges for young players looking for an avenue back into professional football.
Jennings, formerly of the Premier League, is the Nike Academy director, spearheading a project designed to ensure footballers have the very best chance of 'making it'.
The Nike Academy is preparing for the new season, boosted by an encouraging last campaign, with Jordan Rose the most recent success story after gaining a deal with Stockport County this summer.
Sadly, many players, just like 20-year-old Rose, during a key stage of their development, fall out of the game when not rewarded with contracts, meaning they either slip into non-league football or, sometimes, give up altogether.
Here is where the Nike Academy steps in as, initially, trials are held in a bid to offer those with potentially wasted talent offered a second bite at the cherry.
Emotional pick-me-up
And one of Jennings' main roles is to address dwindling belief as respective setbacks often leave scars that will have understandably affected enthusiasm.
Jennings explains: "If there is an area where we all stand challenged it is to be able to support the players' mentality and their emotional needs.
"It has been likened to a bereavement process, being released from a club, and I can understand that; the anger and resentment.
"All of those things impact on a player when he leaves a professional club, it can take a long time to get over.
"We can help in the neutral sphere that we are at the Academy to help put those players back together."
The Academy currently has 19 players on its books, and Jennings has been impressed by the talent at his disposal, stating: "I am hopeful the boys are going to reach the required level.
"Ryan James and Kyle Fraser-Allen did particularly well last season, along with Kieran Forbes, those three probably set a benchmark. It is a question of which of those can rise to the required level and go past it."
Attitude
Indeed, Jennings is keen to stress the importance of possessing determination as well as natural ability, with that drive to overcome a setback sometimes the difference between making that final stride.
Jennings continued: "There is no substitute for a work ethic that demonstrates that you can deal with disappointment. What unites young players is disappointment and your ability to overcome that.
"Being able to ride those waves of disappointment is fundamental to achieving success. Furthermore, you need to have players who are willing to learn, never satisfied with their current level."
With a solid pre-season under their belt, optimism amongst the coaching staff is high. The Nike Academy held a get-together in Carrington this summer, and its focus is clear.
Jennings concluded: "The ultimate aim would be to try to get a clutch of players into professional clubs with contracts.
"If we can achieve that certainly I think it will be a job well done."