BOLTON Evening News chief soccer writer Gordon Sharrock talks to Sam Allardyce about the thriving Academy the Wanderers' manager hopes to create as a legacy for future generations

INTERNATIONAL acclaim for three of its highly-rated scholars is a testimony to the growing success of the Wanderers' Academy.

Duong Thatch, Michael Gillan and Mikey Byrne were all selected to represent their countries in tournaments this month - before they had even returned for pre-season training.

Sam Allardyce expressed his delight and his pride in the talent that is starting to roll off the Reebok production line. But the Wanderers' boss, while acknowledging that a successful youth policy needs time to develop, admits he is growing increasingly impatient.

"We're making progress but far too slow for my liking," the manager said. "But then everything's far too slow for Sam Allardyce!

"Once I've started something, I like to see it done. I want to see an academy facility here, linked to the first team, as near as we possibly can to to what Blackburn, Manchester United and Liverpool have - even Crewe!"

Wanderers have invested heavily to staff-up their academy but apart from the 60m x 40m pitch under the inflatable dome at Horwich St Joseph's School - a joint venture with the school and Bolton Council which will be officially opened in September - they have no dedicated venue to call their own.

Allardyce remains envious of the showpiece academies other clubs have developed and moans that a lack of funding and deficiencies in the education system are hampering his hopes of being a major player in a successful nationwide youth programme.

"At least now, thankfully, the Council is helping us and that can only be of benefit to the club and the town in general," he says.

"The aim is to find new, young players like Kevin Nolan but I don't just want an academy to develop young players, I want a community facility for youngsters in and around Bolton so that the community programme can grow ... with the help of the council.

"When I leave the club eventually I want to leave a legacy, something the club has never had before - and I'm determined to push on and convince the council that it is in the town's best interests as well as the football club's.

"It can only be achieved now by the help of the local council and, in a wider sense, by the government.

"Support and subsidy for sport is an essential part of the education of our children.

"My experience of travelling the world has taught me that countries who are successful at sport have sport on their education curriculum. We haven't got that, which leaves the onus on us.

"We have the professionals who take up to two, three or five years to gain the right qualifications, including child protection ... we have full-time education welfare officers.

"All that is a huge burden on this club.

"That has to be looked at - not just for us as clubs but for the future welfare of the England national team."