Harrogate Town's choice to go with youth set to be tested in League Two relegation run-in
THE perceived wisdom is that you need plenty of experience, first and foremost, in any successful survival battle.
If Harrogate Town are to retain their cherished English Football League status come the close on play on May 2, then they will have taken largely a different approach.
It remains to be seen if the Sulphurites policy pays off and there are serious doubts, let's be honest, following a brutal weekend for the Wetherby Road outfit.
A 2-0 home reverse to Notts County in League Two on Saturday lunch-time was bad enough, but unfortunately worse was to follow with Town's three direct relegation rivals in Newport County, Barrow and Crawley all winning in the 3pm kick-offs.
It meant Simon Weaver's side dropped to the foot of League Two and are effectively five points adrift with six games to play in 2025-26.
It has intensified the pressure ahead of the Easter programme which sees Town call in at play-off chasing Grimsby Town on Good Friday before welcoming Steve Evans's Bristol Rovers on Easter Monday.
Having invested in youth in the winter window, Weaver looks like having to stick to it.
In fairness, arguably the club's best player in recent times has been loan defender Cathal Heffernan, 20, brought in from Newcastle United.
Chanse Headman, also 20, has had his moments too as has Jacob Slater, 21, while there remains a few 'older heads' in the shape of Bryn Morris, Jack Muldoon and Liam Gibson.
On placing his faith in young players in the club's quest to remain in the league, Weaver, inset, said: "Yes, I went all in on it, really.
"I don't like gambling, but we found ourselves in a situation where we had players with recurring injuries, an ageing squad and an ageing core.
"In January, James Belshaw went to Notts County. It was a good move for him and very local for him and his childhood team he supported.
"It enabled me, with that money, to be able to go on and bring younger players in. They've all fared really well, so it's boosted us. But we do feel that it's been a strength of ours.
"Players are coming with a good appetite and (eventually) moving on.
"We've got a group of younger players. We always say it's not the ceiling coming to play for us. Go and play for someone higher and earn bigger wages.
"There's been a huge change in the six years since we've been at the club.
"You can see it and you can feel it."