Cheltenham Town’s Martin Allen believes the future of the Club lies within their young players hands.
Speaking after their final Coca Cola League One game of the season at Southend United Allen said:
“It was a fantastic performance from us. We were brave in possession and passed the ball around superbly. We asked the players for a good performance to see out the season and with five 17 year olds in our team and a couple of 19 year olds we restricted them to very few chances.”
“It’s been great for a couple of months working with these young players, they have played in reserves as well and some weeks they have taken some beatings while others they have been magnificent. The performance today of Kyle Haynes (pictured above) was magnificent for a 17 year old. Jake Lee started again and did well and so did Will Puddy on his debut. Theo Lewis (pictured below) and Josh Emery came on and looked confident so we do have to look to the future.”
Despite the dissappointment of relegation the Allen is keen to see his young charges turn a negative in to a positive and added:
“I’ve told them ‘well done’ but now they’ve had a taste of it, they need to go away and work really hard in the summer, come back bigger and stronger and ready to challenge the pros for places in the first team.”
He added:
“I’m hurt [by relegation], but I’ve seen the development and personalities and characters grow. They’ve stepped out of the shadows. Players have grown in stature and belief and I’m very proud of them.”
“Some of those players that are here and that are going to be here next year are going to be a key part of it and they have now got to take the responsibility to take this club forward.”
