by Matt Woosnam

 

As Crystal Palace decide on which category they will apply for this season, academy director Gary Issott has fired a warning about the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).

Speaking to SportsDirect News, Issott warned that clubs could close their academies and players could slip through the net as a result of the paltry compensation offered to clubs whose youngsters are poached before they even reach the U18 squads.

The Eagles made their first summer signing last week, but it wasn’t any of the names they have been linked with so far. Instead, it was a 13-year-old from Southend United. Shrimpers boss Phil Brown confirmed to TalkSport they had received £37,500 compensation from Palace for the youngster under the fixed tribunal system of EPPP.

In the future though, it may be that there are fewer and fewer players available to buy from other academies.

According to Issott, it is likely that clubs may feel the benefits of EPPP are outweighed by the cost to run an academy and the disproportionate fees received for youngsters poached from elsewhere will lead to closures.

Indeed, Palace signed impressive midfielder Jake Gray from Wycombe Wanderers’ after they closed their academy citing EPPP as the major reason.

It is somewhat of a double edged sword for Palace, who voted against EPPP, as they seek to decide on a Category 1 or 2 status academy for the forthcoming season.

They will look to benefit from the system, but perhaps with a feeling of resentment towards the rules themselves.

It remains unclear as to whether the club will take the hit of the extra cost for running a Category 1 and simply rely on the excellent reputation of the academy in South London to attract the brightest talents.