West Ham production line of new talent has ground to a halt - ex-scout

West Ham face a serious issue at the academy level amid their failure to produce consistent talent in recent years.

That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa senior scout, Bryan King, who exclusively spoke to Football Insider.

The Irons face return to the Championship this summer after relegation was confirmed on the Premier League's final day last month.

West Ham now face a scramble to equip their squad for what promises to be a tough and grating season in the second tier, with several of their brightest players set to leave.

Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Mateus Fernandes are among those linked with exits, with the Hammers keen to make a significant profit.

Transfer chiefs are already working to replace the outgoing stars, but their job has made more difficult by the lack of output from the academy.

Bryan King highlights West Ham academy issue

Throughout their history, the West Ham academy has been a source for superb young players to emerge.

The likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard started with the Hammers, and enjoyed legendary careers.

But it has been a long time without much success for the academy at Chadwell Heath, which has only notably produced Declan Rice in recent years.

"West Ham are going to have to work at looking, either for new talent because the wonderful West Ham academy hasn't been producing in the last four or five years," King told Football Insider.

"The players it did, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, they had that little golden era, didn't they, the academy? Now that hasn't really gone to fruition."

What is going on with West Ham's academy?

It was only three years ago that West Ham's Under-18s won the FA Youth Cup, beating Arsenal in the final.

So if there is talent available, why is the senior team so short of academy graduates?

West Ham appear to have a pathway problem that does not allow young players to be given the chance to impress and show their readiness.

Freddie Potts was given that chance by Nuno Espirito Santo this season and impressed for a short period - he will hope to play a part next season.

But it appears West Ham need serious overhaul at the academy level, and the recent change at board level may just be the kick-start that was needed.