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I’m sure I am not the only supporter to wonder why the once steady trickle of young players graduating from our youth set up seems to have dried up. And I’m also sure that, like me, others are speculating as to what might be the reason and what, if anything, we can do about it.

We still manage to attract young players who are good enough to represent England at their respective age levels so why is it that so few progress through the ranks and, worse, many disappear without trace from the professional game? The most recent, highly rated, youngster to leave us was Robert Hall who joined Bolton when his contract expired last July. Like many of us I had seen him at youth and development squad level and thought he had a bright future at West Ham.

Some will no doubt point to Sam Allardyce and argue that Hall wasn’t given any opportunities at West Ham to show what he could do. Up to a point this is a valid argument but it is equally valid to say that he had not been a regular choice for the clubs, Birmingham and Bolton, he was loaned out to, so why do we believe a player not considered ready for regular Championship football should be thrown into Premier League action?

Those of us who have watched Development Squad games realise there is a massive gap between that level and the Championship, never mind the Premier League. The problem that clubs like ours need to address is how to bridge that gap.

At present the loan system is the only process which a club can turn to and the fundamental problem with the loan system is that the parent club loses a large element of control over how the player is used. Hall spent a lot of time on the bench at Bolton last season. How was that helping his football education? It would be wrong to blame the Bolton manager. His responsibility is to win matches for his club, not worry about the development of a West Ham youngster.

What I believe clubs should be allowed to do is to field 'B' teams in competitive leagues. This system works very well in Spain, for example, and has undoubtedly benefited clubs there. Barcelona’s present squad contains many home grown players who have come through their academy and been given the opportunity at 'B' level before graduating to the first team.

It appears that West Ham (and probably other clubs too) are lobbying for this system to be introduced here. I think it was Nick Haycock who made the point in a piece on the club’s official site.

Personally I don’t see a down side. Let’s assume we had a 'B' team playing in the Conference as a starting point. I actually think it would benefit clubs to have a visit from teams representing West Ham, Spurs, Man United and so on. You only have to look at attendances in pre season friendlies, even where a 'So-And-So FC XI' turn out without a hint of a first team squad member to realise that a 'name' club will add to the gate.

The benefit to clubs is obvious. The players would be competing in a competitive environment. They could be rewarded by promotion to a higher level . Obviously, as in Spain, they couldn’t compete in the same league as the senior side but I doubt if there are many clubs, even the big boys, whose development squads are good enough to attain that level anyway.

They would also be playing in front of bigger crowds and, more importantly in my opinion, their performances would be monitored by our own coaching staff who would also be responsible for deciding whether or not to pick a player, which is not the case when a player is loaned out.

I know some will argue it would devalue the structure of the English game. I don’t see that argument at all. A young kid whose dad takes him along to see his local Div 2 side turn out against Bury or Accrington would still take him along to see Manchester United 'B' wouldn’t he?

Obviously this system would take some organisation which is, in my opinion, something our footballing authorities are not particularly good at. But I feel, like Nick Haycock, it is an idea which has a lot of merit and is at least worth of discussion. I won’t hold my breath because, as usual, vester interests will come to the fore. But let’s at least have a grown up discussion about it.

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