Liam Brady admits it is always tough to tell young players they will not make it at Arsenal but that does not stop him following their careers.
The Gunners youth boss oversaw Kilmarnock's Dean Shiels and Celtic's Anthony Stokes when the pair were teenagers and even though neither of them made it in North London, he is thrilled to see them playing top quality football in Scotland.
"If they can't make it at Arsenal then I want to see them do well for another club. I'm always watching out for the boys who have left us.
"Every Sunday I scan the papers to see how they're doing, how they played, if they won or lost, if they scored or kept a clean sheet.
"It's no different with Dean and Anthony and if I see that they've done well then I'm delighted. It makes me smile.
"They are nice lads and I'm so pleased for them that they've got this cup final to look forward to. They deserve an occasion like this.
"They each have the ability to inspire their teams.""I like to see all of my players go on and have a career in the game," Brady said prior to this Sunday's Scottish League Cup final which will see Shiels and Stokes clash at Hampden.