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Academy boss eyes next crop of Wolves talent

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A summer which has so far been quiet for Wolves has delivered at least one significant piece of good news.

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Confirmation the club's academy had retained its Category One status – and with it the reputation of being among the best in the country – came as a huge boost which was rightly celebrated within the walls of Molineux.

For academy manager Gareth Prosser, it was reward for a job well done during three years in which several players have successfully made the jump from youth teams to the first XI.

Yet the Welshman is not the type to rest on his laurels. Instead, his focus is very much on the future and ensuring the academy gets even better.

"We don't want to become complacent," he said. "We want to strive to be up there with the very best and ahead of the very best.

"Last season has been terrific for us in terms of productivity, with players being involved in training and matchday squads with Kenny and the lads. We need to build on that now.

"We need to push on and make sure we find another Dom Iorfa, another Kortney (Hause), another Jordan (Graham), another Bright (Enobakhare), another Jack Price. We have to keep them coming through."

Wolves place plenty of focus on developing their own homegrown talents with club captain Danny Batth – who first joined the academy at the age of 10 – prominent among those who have risen through the ranks.

But recruitment also plays a key factor. Iorfa was signed from Southend at the age of 15, while Graham, who made a huge impact before his season was cut short by injury, joined from Villa.

Prosser believes the retention of Category One status will help the club in attracting the best young talent.

"Being a Category One academy means we can provide players with a top games programme, not just the top provision in place here," he said. "The recruitment of players is key. We can compete with the very best and what we offer is a pathway to the first-team."

The academy's status was retained following a week-long audit in which every aspect of their work was assessed.

It was, according to Prosser: "Very similar to what schools go through with Ofsted."

That is a fitting comparison, not least because provision is made, not just for football, but also education, with work going on at the academy round the clock.

"We are expected to have full-time programmes in place," he went on. "Staff are in virtually six or seven days a week in the evenings. It is non-stop.

"There is community involvement here, it is a fantastic facility and we want to make sure it is used to its maximum.

"We have both the formal education provision in place but also some informal education which plays a part in developing a rounded individual and not just an elite professional footballer.

"We have got a very forward-thinking group of staff who want to keep progressing and keep the club progressing.

"There are always tweaks to add and improve the programme as it evolves and make additions which can make us even better."