On the right track
Allan says the future’s bright
Allan McManus, St Mirren’s head of youth development, insists the club must be doing something right as it continues to produce talent.
Over the past 12 months, Stevie Mallan and Kyle McAllister have both earned big money moves down south to English Championship sides Barnsley and Derby County, while Lewis Morgan continues to attract the attention of Burton Albion.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jack Baird and Kyle Magennis have also cemented themselves as first-team regulars – and McManus believes the pathway is there for other youngsters to make the step up in the coming months.
McManus said: “That’s our biggest selling point at the football club.
“The bottom line is if you put the hard work in and you are deemed good enough you will get an opportunity.
“We are very fortunate at the moment with the management team that if the young ones are doing well then they will be in and around training with the first team.
“From my point of view – working closely with the first team – there is that link there and constant dialogue with the manager and James Fowler. For the younger ones it is there for them.
“There’s no secret – it’s hard work and dedication.
“If they go about their business the right way some of them could have bright futures.”
Darren Whyte and Nathan Flanagan are the latest youngsters to have penned professional contracts with the club, while McManus has also moved to bolster the youth ranks with a handful of new additions.
Local lad Evan Horne has signed from Dunfermline, while the rest of the squad has also shaped up thanks to the promotion of a number of under-17 players.
McManus added: “We’ve had a lot of good feedback in relation to Evan’s time at Dunfermline.
“He spent a bit of time in and around their first team and I’m really pleased to bring somebody in who is almost ready to be playing first team football and to give him the opportunity to do well here.
“As a team, they did really well last season in the under-17 league.
“The biggest thing for me outwith their quality is that they really want to be professional footballers.
“I don’t think people realise when they come in here how hard you have to work to get to the levels required to be a professional footballer.”