Danny Ward, and brother Jim, above, linking Brickies with academy.

Jim and Danny Ward looking to give youth a chance at Sittingbourne

Danny Ward is hoping a new strategy with Sittingbourne’s academy side will give youngsters a chance to progress.

Last year was the first time the Sittingbourne Academy, run at Sittingbourne Community College, had a side.

And new joint managers Jim and Danny Ward are hoping to make the most of it in their first season by giving youngsters who impress a taster of first team training sessions, and if they are good enough time with Kent league sides.

“We are going to get some of their players integrated into the first team, and get a couple of them to come along to training so they are used to playing at that level, and so we can see what they are like,” he said.

“They only started last year, the start of the season wasn’t good, but they ended quite well. They are coming down this week to have a look at the main club.

“It will be down to the players, they will say to the players ‘you have to work hard’, it will give them an incentive to get on, it’s exciting.

“Last year there wasn’t any kind of link up with the first team and the academy side, and not having an academy side there’s a gap.

“I’m not going to say they will come in and play first team football, they have got to be good enough.

“I have got a lot of contacts in the Kent leagues and so if some of them are good enough we could find a Kent league side to look after them.”

Not only will the first team reap the rewards if they can find some talented players, but Danny feels it will restore a feeling of identity and ownership of the club for the young players coming through.

“It’s a win-win situation all around,” he said. “If we get a player that comes through the system in the academy they are more likely to want to play for Sittingbourne.”

There has been one additiion to the Bourne Park squad this week as former Ramsgate player Will Graham joined as a player-coach.