PHIL CANNON had to start from scratch after arriving at the County Ground but is leaving Town confident for the future of its young players.
And the bubbly Scouser believes he was very fortunate to have landed the Town job in the first place.
He said: "It was very brave of Steve McMahon to give me this great job.
"A post like youth development officer really should go to someone local who has the contacts.
"It was a case of working seven days and seven nights to build up contacts in the community, but it was certainly worth the effort.
"I've had a smashing relationship with the clubs and schools and I'll be sorry to leave.
"Without them, we wouldn't get the youngsters.
"They have come to know what sort of player we want at this club. If a youngster has ability and a dreadful attitude then he can look elsewhere.
"Football is about more than just what you can do with your feet.
"If a youngster of 10 loses the ball and sulks, what will he be like in a big game where so much is at stake?
"Youngsters shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes. I want that youngster who loses the ball and immediately tries to get it back."
Of the current crop, Cannon believes Nathan Edwards is the role model.
He said: "Youngsters probably think they're only being assessed when they're training or playing in a match.
"Wrong! We look at everything, even down to whether they say 'Hello' to you when they come in in the morning.
"I am confident Nathan has a great chance to make it. He is so totally focused and his attitude is first class.
"I remember watching a reserve game when a shot went flying into the Stratton Bank. A lot of the young lads just stood and watched but Nathan went off to get it. That tells me that his attitude is spot-on."
Cannon's 'thank you' list is too long to print.
He said: "There are so many people who have helped me. From the man who spots a lad playing in a game on a Sunday morning through to the gaffer, Viv Busby and Jimmy Fraser.
"I'm going to miss this club, but sometimes in football, and in life, you have to move on.
"I'm just grateful that so many people, including Roy Evans, have given me their blessing."
Finally, Cannon wants to bury a myth that he oversees a bunch of young 'slaves'.
Education is the key thing for our kids when they're not doing their football.
"We want them to have qualifications to fall back on. The days of just having them cleaning out the toilets are long gone."
Thankfully for the traditionalists, cleaning the pro's boots remains. And woe betide any youngster who fails to clean all that muck off the Razor's!
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