The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Ryan returns and pro contracts for three graduates
The good news keeps arriving for the Posh Academy.
Hard on the heels of the club moving closer to a treasured Academy 2 status came the return to the Weston Homes Stadium of highlyprized youth coach Ryan Semple.
And three Academy scholars, striker Brad Rolt, midfielder Archie Jones and goalkeeper Will Blackmore have been awarded one-year development professional deals.
Local lad Semple, who played 52 times for Posh between 2002-06, has earned a reputation as a fine coach. He graduated as an elite coach through a Football Association scheme before joining Manchester City as under 15 coach.
Semple was previously assistant manager to Jack Collison for Posh under 18s and has been appointed as the Academy Lead Phase Coach for the under 12s-16s, also taking on the role of under 16s manager on match day.
Posh Academy director Kieran Scarff said: “Ryan worked at the Football Association with a lot of the national youth team coaches and players and for the last two years he has been working with the under 15s and 16s at Manchester City, so dealing with elite young players.
“He was already an outstanding coach when he left here before, so we are very excited to have him back.”
Posh first-team boss Darren Ferguson was pleased to be able to hand pro contracts to the three Academy graduates.
“I don’t just give these contracts out willy-nilly,” Ferguson said. “I gave a lot of thought to these decisions. I don’t want to give people false hope, but I think it is important they are given 12 months to see what level they can get to whilst training full-time with us.”
Rolt, who has scored four goals in four friendly appearances this summer, is expected to go out on loan once competitive football returns.