Expert: Brentford could be forced into nine-figure payout as U-turn reported
Brentford could be forced to pay between £5-6million a year in order to relaunch their academy just six years after closing it down.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine data analysis.
As reported by the Daily Mail (3 June), Brentford are planning to re-open their academy – six years after closing their Category Two set-up and shifting focus to players aged between 17 and 21.
The report claims the Bees’ improved financial situation is the main driving force behind the decision, while Brexit has made it harder to procure young talent from Europe.
The Athletic updated on Friday (10 June), claiming Brentford will re-open their academy at Category Four level – but have ambitions to become a Category One club.
Dinnery suggested the U-turn may have been based on the earning potential of bringing through their own young talent.
“Ultimately it was all about the money for Brentford,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“That was the reason behind the club making the decision to close their Category Two academy.
“But now after a season in the top flight they are a lot more financially stable. The decision may also be based on the potential financial benefits of bringing your own players through and the vast sums involved.
“In terms of what that will cost, it will depend on what category they are looking to come in at.
“There are different requirements within the Premier League in order to satisfy the criteria to be named a Category One or a Category Two academy.
“The higher they’re aiming – the higher that cost will be, and that will come from staffing, facilities, infrastructure.
“We’re looking in the region of between £5-6million a year in order to get something back off the ground.
“It is nuanced in the fact that we don’t necessarily know the long-term aims of where they want to be with this academy set-up.”
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