The production line of talent from the Ipswich Town Academy is arguably even more important for the future of the football club now given the financial problems it is facing.

The production line of talent from the Ipswich Town Academy is arguably even more important for the future of the football club now given the financial problems it is facing.

And there is plenty of talent there, as fans who watch the senior academy teams from the touchline can confirm.

Town's reserve team is largely made up of home products and, unless Ipswich win promotion, the academy players are likely to play a keener role next season.

Certainly I would expect the likes of Ian Westlake, Matt Richards and Matt Bloomfield to make the step up on a regular basis.

I've seen a lot of academy and reserve football over the past few years and Westlake and Bloomfield compliment the sublime skills of Ambrose in midfield at every level they have played together.

Manager Joe Royle has also invited Cambridge-based midfielder Antonio Murray to train with the first team squad recently.

There are some other strong contenders to progress including strikers Dean Bowditch and Sam Morrow, defenders Chris Hogg and Lee Chaffey, and Erkan Okay, who have all been in good form.

Goalkeeper Lewis Price, currently sidelined with a broken bone in his wrist, has also made good progress.

There is a lot of promising talent further down the line at schoolboy level.

This week, being half-term, there have been trials, coaching and practise matches at Rushmere.

The U17s are without a game this weekend but that gives more flexibility for Ian Smith in choosing his U19 side for the visit of Chelsea tomorrow, with an 11am kick off.

At any level Chelsea sides are strong with some very good players so it is likely to be a fine contest.

The academy assistant director will wait until after training today before naming his squad.

Out will be Price and midfielder Marc Smith, who is waiting to see a specialist, and Northern Ireland striker Sam Morrow is also a doubt.

Dean Bowditch has been away with the England U17 squad for their friendly in Greece which ended in a 1-0 win on Wednesday with a goal from Lee Holmes of Derby.

Bowditch will hope to be involved next month in a mini European qualification tournament against Slovakia, Scotland and the Czech Republic.