SuperMario wrote:

15 year olds now allowed to play in the top flight, think we might see a bit of sassetti

However does it still mean we can lose him for nothing when he turns 16 😂 you’d think not but who knows with the rules these days ?

 
Yes it will, because a 15 year old can’t legally sign a professional contract.

JerryDungle wrote:

SuperMario wrote:

15 year olds now allowed to play in the top flight, think we might see a bit of sassetti

However does it still mean we can lose him for nothing when he turns 16 😂 you’d think not but who knows with the rules these days ?

 
Yes it will, because a 15 year old can’t legally sign a professional contract.

 
Crazy

I voted in favour of it, purely because the all the outgoings at the club come out the same pot, less money the club have to put to the academy or facilities, means more for the 1st team.

None of the guys we're moved on that we (the fans) felt was too early have really gone on to achieve anything, Banks, Kerr, Forbes, Scott Allan etc so 400k isn't to be sniffed at.

And maybe that 400k is what covers club costs, we need to get to a stage where a player has great ability, we get a season or two and a big sale, or we sell 2 a year and the academy more than pays for itself.

When English clubs can plunder our guys for sweetie money, it certainly brings the question of why bother with an academy, but surely if it was such a burden, the club themselves would strip it back?

I'm of the opinion we should just use the money we have available to plunder the best lower league teams have to offer, but there must be a reason, regulations, clauses or something in it for the club to run something that many question? I can just be a box ticking or overly romanticised view of filling a team with our own.

RogerTheAlien wrote:

The DUSF members have voted in favour of investing 177K in foundation park.

Hmm.

 
The Foundation made this decision after balloting its members.
It's not like someone at the Foundation woke up one morning and said to himself I think I'll send United £177k today. The members voted overwhelmingly in favour. If  the opinion of that small sample of 2400 was mirrored in the overall fanbase there's a clear sense that the vast majority of fans support keeping the Academy.

It's the last part of an ongoing project at Foundation Park which has 100% been aimed at upgrading facilities. From memory I think they've funded changing rooms, toilet areas, a viewing stand, catering facilities and other upgrades including coaching technology.

The sales of players who've gone south, regrettable though it is, helps the Academy to be financially viable. This season we are already seeing some Academy players breaking through. But we can't stop parents advising their boys to take the big money on offer down south, it's just the way it is at the moment for all Scottish clubs.

Last edited by redford_must_score (28/7/2026 12:57 pm)

A couple of weeks ago I posted that we are streets ahead of our neighbours.
It was during a heated exchange with another poster.
I expected a bit of resistance (Luke Graham etc) but that resistance never came.

Although the league positions of the clubs last season were comparable there's no doubt that the investment into our infrastructure is positive and at some point is likely to lead to a breakout successful season. (4th wasn't a bad start) When prospective signings are shown Tannadice, Foundation Park and the St Andrews training centre they're impressed. We're a club that players want to sign for.

Contrast that with a club with a dilapidated stadium, no training centre to speak of and no dedicated Academy facilities. And a manager telling the fans they're going to suffer.

So let's keep the positive vibes, let's keep investing in the Club and Academy via the Foundation.

Mr Ogren may not be perfect, who is, but be careful what you wish for.