It would be easy to assume the impending loss to Liverpool of the exceptionally talented Ben Doak was simply the same old story of Celtic’s failings to offer genuine pathways to talented youngsters resulting in other clubs in bigger leagues with more resources being able to snare our young talent – and if you look to similar stories surrounding Barry Hepburn and Liam Morrison heading to Bayern Munich or Josh Adam to Manchester City it would be an understandable conclusion to jump to.
However much like there have been changes implemented at first team level under Ange Postecoglou that we now see bearing fruit, so too have strides been made at youth level to ensure young talents will feel their development can be assured at Celtic as much, if not more so, than anywhere else.
Individually tailored pathways are now being introduced and youngsters and their representatives and families can now see a career mapped out at Celtic. Such a process is still in its infancy but the news Celtic appear to have persuaded two promising youngsters to sign pro-contracts, despite interest from big clubs in big leagues, shows improved engagement with young talents is persuading them their future is in good hands at Celtic.
The first real evidence of that is the news young midfield playmaker Daniel Kelly is set to sign a three-year professional contract and with it reject reported interest from the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Benfica, meanwhile there is further good news with left back Mitchell Frame – a full back highly rated at Celtic – will also sign a similar deal, this despite interest from Manchester City, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
Like so many areas of Celtic the modernising of youth structures, and evidenced investment in young players futures, has been somewhat behind the curve, but changes have been made. This is something we at The Celtic Star have been banging the drum about for some three years now and it’s as welcome a development as anything we’ve seen at first team level this season.
Of course, it’s not a fool proof approach after all Ben Doak did have his head turned by Liverpool, but with pathway plans emerging at long last and a clear link to the first team evidenced by the likes of Dane Murray, Owen Moffat, Joey Dawson and Doak himself this season, players can not only see their future mapped out on paper, they can also see it happening for real to their peers. And it is that approach that may well see Mitchell Frame and Daniel Kelly commit their futures to Celtic and hopefully set an example for those who follow.
Niall J
