Boss Steve Coppell believes Bristol City's academy needs to start producing more top-class players. The academy, which is jointly funded by Football Association grants and funds, is associate director Ernie Arathoon`s responsibility.

Coppell insists he wants the academy to produce players who will not be out of their depth in the first team.

"If it's just an acknowledgement that the club has a youth system to put forward a couple of players every year that aren't any good, then it's a waste," he told the Bristol Evening Post.

"It is important for the community that this club has a production line coming through and, if the players are good, then the academy is very important.

"They must know that when Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea are competing to sign them at 12 years of age that their best chance of playing first-team football is with their local club."