Paul Cowie insists he welcomes the pressure to produce the next generation of Dundee United stars after taking charge of the club’s much-vaunted youth academy.
Crafting talented, profitable home-grown talents remains a pillar of the Tangerines’ business model as they seek self-sustainability — as repeatedly outlined by owner Mark Ogren.
United banked a healthy sum courtesy of Kerr Smith’s switch to Aston Villa in January, while the Tannadice outfit fielded 16 academy graduates for the first-team during the 2021/22 campaign.
Indeed, the fine work done by previous academy director, Andy Goldie, saw him headhunted by Swansea City during the summer.
And it will now fall upon the shoulders of his successor, Cowie — older brother of ex-Scotland star Don — to carry the baton.
“The academy is part of the business model,” said Cowie. “Us putting a player into the first-team saves us buying one. That’s the first thing.
“The next part is we might have a player who is ready to kick onto a higher level, whether it is the English Premier League or overseas.
“There is the potential to sell players and bring money back into the club that way.
“But the first aim is to get them into our first-team; that’s where our player pathway helps. We have given so many opportunities in recent years.
“There is nothing better for a fan to see than homegrown talent coming into the first-team. There is more of a connection. That’s what we are trying to achieve and I welcome that pressure. We all do.”
Patience
The amount of academy graduates being afforded first-team action has dropped off this season, compared to the 16 of last term.
Only Kieran Freeman, Ross Graham and, sporadically, Archie Meekison, have seen anything approaching regular action.
“For fans there is a bit of patience (needed) to see what’s coming through,” added Cowie. “But there is no change in the goal of producing players for our first-team.
“It is part of the club’s DNA; it is part of our history. We have had success from it and we are now looking towards the future.”
While Goldie inherited a youth system desperately in need of care and investment, Cowie believes he is able to evolve a well-oiled machine — only enhanced by the renovation done to Gussie Park.
“The foundations have been laid in the time I have been here,” added Cowie, who joined United in 2018, initially as a part-time academy coach. “It is now our time to kick that on, grow, evolve and make it better.”
Platform
And Cowie is adamant there should be no ceiling to the ambition of young Terrors.
That topic is particularly apposite in light of ex-United kid Harry Souttar turning out for Australia at the World Cup.
“When you see these stories (like Souttar), that gives our young players the motivation to see they might have that opportunity,” Cowie added. “I was a young footballer and my dream was to play for Liverpool; to play at the highest level I could.
“Why should it be any different now?
“I think Dundee United presents a very good platform for young players, with the pathway we give.”
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