Jason Bentley

Hmmm... Let's hope this is rumour. Surely now is the time to focus on young lads. Cost cutting? Maybe, but very short view given the drop in revenues ultimately leading to shortage of money for quality players or should that be second rate foreign players? Give the kids a chance: Elvis did at Falkirk.

I also went to the park yesterday although I didn't go until just after 13.00hrs or when the U14 & U15's had been 'advertised' as taking place. When I arrived there was a hybrid of U13 & U14's only on the pitch with the U14 & U15's having been postponed for another date. It's interesting to read the question about how the coaches manage to get so many lads from outside Perth and majority from the West. Really no surprise there as it is well known - and quoted in a recent conversation - that there are no decent players in Perth and that they are not streetwise or in other words not raised on the mean streets of Garthamlock and can cut it as the typical Scot's (or UK) player that plays with passion and offer a decent line in robust challenges. The other question that should be asked is how these open trials were made known, I suspect they weren't really as I only found out through an innocuous post on another youth forum so I can only assume that the few local lads that turned up did so via word of mouth. Was there anything advising the trials posted on this or other local forums? I know 3 parents only found out late last week so if they hadn't been at the park then there would have been even less Perthshire boys. We do live in a democracy and I have absolutely no issue with where players come from but I do fear that it seems the West has been targetted as a harvesting area because of hardiness and that doesn't bode well for the future of the Scottish game if all that coaches are going to do is get big and tough guys playing unnatractive football and big punts up the park: I don't care what development mantra is spouted as it is unfortunate some coaches want to win at pretty much the cost of developing flair and positive attractive flowing football. Hopefully the words coming from Stewart Regan over the past few days - about the 'new way' - will demonstrate to coaches and players/parents alike that it is about development and not results: it's only the players, parents and some coaches that still believe results matter. I would have liked to have seen more local lads yesterday (or maybe in future trials) as there are good players in Perth and they should get a chance but unless trials are known about locally then they won't turn up. Again, I don't disagree with bringing players from the West but I do disagree that they are brought en-masse as I'm sure every Saints fan would like to see local lads making good but hey, at least Saints are giving it a go at those age groups so a real step in the right direction by the club and the coaching staff. I hope they do well, and bring in some local lads at the same time and not go down the route taken by the likes of other East Coast teams who farm lads from the West and either set up facilities there or bus them through on training nights !!! I watch developments with interest.