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With Football League funding of £70,000 ending at the end of the season, Cambridge United have decided to scrap their Centre of Excellence and move over to the college-based PASE scheme as used by Hereford United.
Vice Chairman John Howard told a Thursday night meeting: "It is obviously very sad, given the stream of talent that the centre of excellence has produced over the years, that it cannot be preserved. However, since circumstances dictate that we cannot keep the centre of excellence in operation, we are convinced that the club should continue to offer the chance of professional football training to local youngsters through a high-quality community and college-based scheme developed in conjunction with the club."
Hereford United began operating the PASE scheme with u-17 and u-19 sides in association with Pershore college in 2002, and have already seen benefits with both Andy Williams and Sam Gwynne progressing into the professional ranks.
