Darragh MacAnthony wants to own a ‘mini-Southampton’

Indeed co-owner Darragh MacAnthony declared on the latest edition of his ‘Hard Truth’ podcast he wants to turn Posh into a ‘mini-Southampton’, a club renowned for bringing youngsters into the first-team from their Academy.

MacAnthony has therefore been delighted to see two 17 year-olds (Flynn Clarke and Ronnie Edwards), an 18 year-old (Harrison Burrows) and 21-year-old Idris Kanu, not only play for Posh in the last two League One matches, but play very well.

He sees the development of young players as crucial to a successful Posh future in a new stadium.

“Of course we want wins and a promotion,” MacAnthony stated. “But most importantly the partners want to see good football and young players improving.

“We have a commitment to the younger players at the club and that wouldn’t change if we were in the Championship.

“Sure I’d have to go and find another Dwight Gayle or Ivan Toney, but I can see 60-70% of our squad being Academy produced in the future.

“I’d love us to be a mini-Southampton producing players regularly for the first team from the Academy and start punching above our weight at Championship level. That’s what the partners want for the club and we have the best possible manager to achieve it.

“Darren Ferguson was brave to shake the side up and play three youngsters in the same game last weekend and it worked a treat.

“The EFL Trophy helped us as the young players in that game against West Ham showed Darren what they were about and he knew he could trust them.

“Young players are fearless. They will will make mistakes, but they have to be allowed to. If they don’t learn from those mistakes then you have a problem.

“There has to be a pathway to the first team for the Academy lads which is why we agreed at the start of the season that Idris would start as back up to Joe Ward, Harrison would cover Dan Butler and Flynn would back up Sammie Szmodics and Ryan Broom. Young players can get lost and it’s vital that doesn’t happen here.

“And credit to Sammie. He lost his place to a 17 year-old, but he didn’t sulk. When he came on as a substitute he was really good.

“I’m now working on bringing a couple of 17 year-olds from non-league into the Academy to strengthen us further and credit to my partners for doing other things as that has freed me up to do what I’m best at.

“It’s all designed to reach self sufficiency in the near future. Our dream is great football in a new stadium with three times as many fans paying less to watch us, an improved training ground, Category One status for the Academy and for the owners to be owed no money.”