Archie Oliver signs scholarship deal with West Brom, Nigel Quashie reacts
Young midfielder Archie Oliver has agreed a scholarship contract with West Brom, the IPDA Football Academy has confirmed.
Oliver joined the Baggies from the Halesowen-based IPDA academy, which was founded by ex-Albion midfielder Nigel Quashie, in 2017.
Quashie took to his personal Twitter account on Wednesday to react to the news that Oliver had signed a scholarship deal at The Hawthorns after it was initially tweeted on the academy’s page.
He said: “19 players signed to pro clubs in four years and now the academy has it’s first player signing a scholarship with West Brom.
“Proud of what we are building with the facility for the academy and community. A facility for everyone.”
Time to build bridges amid Luke Dowling mess
It remains to be seen how good the talent from Quashie’s IPDA academy becomes but it’s pretty clear from the academy’s website that West Midlands clubs are chomping at the bit to sign up his youngsters.
Wolves, Walsall, Birmingham, Shrewsbury and the Albion have all welcomed youngsters from IPDA so hopes are high for teenage ace Oliver.
According to transfermarkt, Oliver has made two appearances in the Under-18 Premier League this season, playing in defeats to both Brighton and Norwich.
That doesn’t look too good on paper but the truth is that all levels of the club are a mess right now and Dowling has to take responsibility for that.
West Brom’s technical director shook things up at the club when he was hired and there’s now far less integration between the senior side and the Albion’s Under-23s.
Dowling’s changes didn’t go down well with a raft of coaches packing their belongings and heading to other clubs, mainly Aston Villa.
Mark Harrison, Paul Gardner, Mike Scott and Steve Hopcroft are all among those to have quit West Brom so a lot of work needs to be done to introduce fresh new talent at The Hawthorns with a new team of staff.
Whether or not finding talent at Quashie’s academy will play out well remains to be seen but it is a start and a promising sign the club is pushing forward now.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips has been raving about Dowling for not making a mistake that Newcastle have made.
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