Ipswich Town will take over running of Charitable Trust’s Player Development Centre
Ipswich Town - Credit: Archant
Ipswich Town have reiterated their desire to recruit the county’s best youngsters after taking over the running of the ITFC Charitable Trust’s Player Development Centres (PDC).
The Trust informed parents last week that their sessions at Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, which catered for seven and 16-year-olds and provided a link to Town’s academy for the best nine to 16-year-olds, were ending.
This move should quash any concerns that the club could miss out on the region’s best talent with the Blues set to offer a tiered system of coaching that would initially be open to all seven to 16-year-olds for a fee.
A lack of facilities made available by Ipswich and the Blues’ wish to take over football at junior elite level have been confirmed as two of the reasons behind the Trust’s decision to stop its sessions.
Chief executive of the ITFC Charitable Trust, Terry Baxter, said: “It is with regret that the trust has come to the decision to cease the running of the Player Development Centre programme.
“However, due to a lack of availability of club facilities and understanding the wish of the club to take on the running of junior elite football, we have come to this decision.”
No date has been set for the launch of the club’s PDC but letters will be sent out to parents of youngsters already taking part, in the near future.
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An Ipswich Town club spokesperson: “It is our intention to offer player development courses, similar to the Trust’s PDC courses, under the club’s banner with the ITFC Academy providing resources in developing these courses.
“Discussions are on-going at the moment and we hope to finalise the details very soon.
“It’s also intended that we will contact the parents of the youngsters on the Trust’s PDC courses to invite them to join the club-run courses.
“It is Ipswich Town’s aim for every youngster in the region to have the opportunity to be coached by the club.”
The move is another step in the right direction for Town as the club continues its drive to attain Category One academy status as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
The Ipswich Town Player Development Centre (PDC) was established in 2008 by the Trust, replacing the Advanced Coaching Programme (ACP).
