Thursday 18 December, 2008:
WATFORD manager Brendan Rodgers has reacted positively to today's news that Football League clubs will be forced to field at least four home grown players in their matchday squads from next season.
Earlier today at a specially convened EGM at Derby County, Football League Chairman voted in favour of the proposal which was, in part, tabled by Watford representatives that were on the working committee looking into such issues of player development.
Speaking to the official club website www.watfordfc.com, Rodgers said: "It's a step in the right direction to get the young talents through.
"That way of working is either in your heart or not. I think you have to believe in the development of young players and young people and I am that type of manager that likes to see the talents come through.
"I like to see the growth of young players; they need to get a start somewhere. I believe in that philosophy.
"I have walked into Watford and been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the young players, which has been very high. Over the next couple of years there will be that introduction for them."
To qualify as a home grown player, an individual must have been registered domestically, for a minimum of three seasons, prior to turning 21 years of age.
"What I do know is that British talent is equally as good, technically, as the foreign talent. The big difference is tactically how they play the game that needs improving.
"It's important to be in and around first teams and obviously opportunity is big as well. We have got talents here in this country and, as coaches, we have to be brave enough."
Watford currently is the only club in Britain to be running with an Academy that fully integrates a young player's curriculum and football education, whilst allowing for three times the amount of coaching contact than that of a traditional Academy model.
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