The Exiled Robin

The second episode of "The Cider Diaries" is now available to listen to or download. Featuring chat on the signing of Aden Flint, the great news about the Academy attaining Category 2 status, our thoughts on the continued changes to the backroom staff & much more, it's well worth a listen. You can find it (and subscribe) via iTunes by clicking on this link:  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cider-diaries/id647752062 Or alternatively just listen here http://www.buzzsprout.com/11600/97984-the-cider-diaries-episode-2-positive-news-from-bs3-mp3 Finally, don't forget "The Cider Diaries" now has its own Facebook page so why not head over there & give us a 'like': Http://www.facebook.com/theciderdiaries

I'm delighted to welcome back Stu Radnedge to the pages of The Exiled Robin to analyse the potential impact of the forthcoming Financial Fair Play regulations in light of City's latest jaw-droppingly large annual loss and the redirection clearly signalled from the top. Over to Stu...  The £14.4m loss recorded by Bristol City , in the financial year ending May 31 st 2012, was described by our Chairman as reflecting “a disappointing and difficult year for the club” and he went onto explain that it “illustrates how much work is required… to comply with the new Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations”. So what is FFP? Basically my interpretation is it will ensure football clubs are run more like a business – a good, solid business.   A business that can make a loss, but only up to a specified amount. It applies to all three leagues (Championship, League One and Two), although the first will adopt a “ breakeven approach ” according to the football league’s website, whic...

Last week perhaps signalled the start of a bright new dawn at Ashton Gate, and I’m not talking about the remarkable and dramatic victory at Hillsborough.   When Joe Morrell committed his most formative of years to the club – spurning interest from five-time European Champions Liverpool in doing so – the moment gave the club their launch pad to go on the offensive about the investment in the new Academy. For too many years, millions of pounds have been sunk into an under-performing, unproductive system doing nothing to justify its worth.   Since the class of late-90’s produced the likes of Tommy Doherty, Aaron Brown and Matt Hill, only Cole Skuse has come through and established himself in the first team.   Dave Cotterill & Leroy Lita spent a little time with the Robins before moving on and earning the academy some much needed ‘profit’, whilst recently the likes of Christian Ribiero, Joe Edwards and James Wilson have all threatened the senior squad without ever ...

The Bristol City Youth academy has often promised much and delivered, arguably, disappointingly.   That was certainly the impression given by the club this summer with a revamp ordered by Derek McInnes, frustrated at the lack of options available to him. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Tim-Kirk-aiming-improve-production-line-Bristol/story-16476765-detail/story.html In the first of a couple of articles on the youth set-up at City, guest writer Lee Molland got in touch with ex Bristol Roversfullback Trevor Challis and got a fascinating insight into some of the workings of City's Academy and what happens behind the scenes. Hi Trevor, thank you for agreeing to chat to us today, can we start by asking you about your professional background and how you’ve ended up at Bristol City? I played football from very young age and trained at Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers as a child and signed professional forms for Q.P.R. at 18.   I made my first team debut at 20, pla...