Colchester United Manager Joe Dunne has spoken of his disappointment after the League One were denied Category Two Academy status.
The U’s failed to achieve the required standard under the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
Speaking to the BBC Essex, Dunne said: “From a personal view it’s deeply disappointing.”
“As a nation we continue to bang on about the lack of quality coming through. Once again barriers are put up and they constantly seem to be put up.”
Colchester has spent that last two seasons reducing their playing salary to invest in youth facilities in order to try and reach Category Two status.
However, they fell short of the standard required by 3 per cent following an assessment by an independent audit panel.
“I’ve been here 17 years, every step forward we take – whether it’s problems with the training ground, stadium, crowd, car park – there always seems barriers put up to stop us progressing,” added Dunne.
“It makes us even more determined. Some people have hidden agendas which I don’t understand. Because any other club in any other town I think there would be more constructive support.”
“I don’t think there’s enough being done to succeed, not just as a club, but as a town.”
Chairman Robbie Cowling said in his programme notes that he would need to “consider a number of issues” before re-applying for Category Two though Dunne suggested that another attempt may be imminent.
“I think the chairman has been extremely brave and showed his courage in the face of it all,” added the Irishman. “We’re still running our academy in the way we should run it and next year we’ll go for it again.”
