LEON Crouch has revealed his masterplan for Saints to satisfy the bank manager in 2008/09 contained the first team squad being based mainly around the club’s academy and reserve players.

Jan Poortvliet has fielded some of the youngest starting XIs in Saints’ history this season since his arrival at St Mary’s.

Part of that has been forced on him by the departure of numerous experienced players, but also partly by his own coaching policy of giving youngsters a chance.

Former Saints football board chairman Crouch admits his cost-cutting plan he took to Barclays Bank prior to be ousted by the return of Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde was not dissimilar to the one that has been implemented.

The one major difference is that he would have kept Nigel Pearson as manager and let him bring in several experienced heads to help the youngsters – like Richard Wright, Chris Lucketti and Chris Perry towards the end of last season.

Full story in today's Daily Echo