GEORGE Burley came through the Ipswich Town ranks with Bryan Klug and last night he stressed how important producing young players has been to the club.

By Elvin King

GEORGE Burley came through the Ipswich Town ranks with Bryan Klug and last night he stressed how important producing young players has been to the club.

Klug is departing the Blues having joined as an apprentice and then returning to the club as a coach having particular success when academy director.

Burley, who is living in Edinburgh after leaving the Scotland national job last autumn, said: “I came through the Ipswich ranks with Bryan and like me this held him in good stead.

“He was a 100 per center as a player but suffered an injury that disrupted a highly promising playing career.

“Ipswich has been a family club and renowned for bringing through their own players and Bryan has played a big part in that.

“Lots of players have come through including during my time as manager at Portman Road.

“This has been an important factor in the success the club has enjoyed.

“There are so many players to pick out just one or two, but it was the lifeblood of the club to be able to find and then develop so much good young talent over the years.”

Charlie Woods is another long-serving Ipswich stalwart having moved from a playing role at Portman Road to a long-serving coach and then scout and advisor to Magilton.

He has also been involved at Newcastle United and Tottenham and with the England set up, and rates Klug highly.

Now working part time for Tottenham Hotspur and watching most Town home games, Woods said: “I have seen some very good coaches around the country and Bryan is up there with the best.

“He is a nice boy and a conscientious boy.

“He is an enthusiastic coach and it is disappointing for him.

“Bryan has played a big part in developing a host of good players and Ipswich - as well as many other clubs - have benefited greatly from this.”

Despite millions spent on their youth policy and winning the FA Youth Cup in 2005, which Klug played a huge part in, the current Town first-team scene contains just two players they have produced themselves - Owen Garvan and Connor Wickham with the latter not joining until he switched from Reading FC after his family moved to Colchester when he was 12.

Goalkeeper Richard Wright is another local product, but he is currently out of the equation as he recovers from injury.

Current Town player Alex Bruce has worked with Klug for the last four seasons having been an early Magilton signing in the summer of 2006.

“I owe a lot to Bryan,” he said. “He is a good man and has been very good to me.

“After seeing him every working day for so long I am upset that he has gone.

“But in football you have to be prepared for changes and I'm sure Bryan will soon be fixed up again.”