Birmingham City academy director Terry Westley backs talent and patience of youth players

Nov 21 2008 by Andy Walker

IF Terry Westley’s undoubted enthusiasm is anything to go by the future of Birmingham City is very positive.

The club have had their problems in recent years – relegation, failed takeovers, dwindling crowds, vociferously unhappy supporters, the list could go on. However,the educated opinion of the club’s academy director is sure to provide encouraging music to the ears of Birmingham’s board of directors.

In times gone by Birmingham, like the vast majority of their peers, have been churning out mediocre footballers who were capable of keeping their heads above the water in the Championship and below but they would have been clearly out of their depth in the Premier League. The England striker Andrew Johnson is one exception but the rise and rise of ‘AJ’ since he was off-loaded to Crystal Palace in 2002 is a bit of a sore point around St Andrew’s.

Westley, however, is convinced that times are changing as Birmingham’s conveyor belt of young talent is about to crank up to the next level.

Jordon Mutch and Jared Wilson have enjoyed tastes of first-team action while defender Krystian Pearce is putting in sterling displays at the top of League One on loan at Scunthorpe United.

Westley says that there is plenty more to come but he is also keen to