Keeping hold of Rovers’ top Academy talent remains a challenge, but one head of Academy Stuart Jones says is made easier by the club’s commitment to giving opportunities to young players.

Last week saw top prospect Adam Wharton sign a new five-year deal with the club, just seven months after signing his first professional deal.

Director of football Gregg Broughton outlined the club will put contract renewals for homegrown talent at the top of the priority list as part of Rovers’ business model.

The club are expected to follow up the contract extension for Wharton by announcing that Ash Phillips has signed his first professional deal, with a three-year contract agreed.

The final formalities of what have become extensive negotiations are now being finalised, with Phillips’ signature to provide a big boost for the club.

It comes as Phillips has travelled to meet up with the England Under-19s squad which has put the 17-year-old on the radar of some of the country’s biggest teams.

Rules under the Elite Player Player Performance Plan (EPPP) have restricted Rovers’ ability to agree a professional deal with Phillips until he turned 17.

The maximum length of contract able to be offered to a 17-year-old is also restricted to just three years, despite Rovers being a Category One Academy.

While that status iffer Rovers the ability to secure player to contracts from the age of nine, Jones also outlined how a change in compensation ruling has also offered some additional protection.

Phillips’ signing would leave only Jake Batty of Rovers’ current scholars that were offered professional terms yet to sign, something Jones sees as a positive.

And he believes that the philosophy of promoting young players will help attract players to the club, but also entice those on their books to agree contract extensions.

He said: “There’s been a change around the rules in that in terms of the compensation levels have increased to provide a little bit of protection.

“It’s always difficult in terms of where we’re at as a football club and the bigger clubs on our doorstep, but what I would say if we create the right environment and culture and give opportunities and a pathway that goes a long way in terms of retaining your best talent.

“I think we’ve done that. If you look at the players who have come through the system we have managed to keep them at the football club and they have gone on to play in our first-team and I think that’s really important.”

Rovers are the only Championship club competing in Premier League 2, though Championship sides Norwich City, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and League One outfit Derby County also have Category One status and play in Division Two.

The minimum spend requirement is currently around £2m per year, with grants taking that above £3m. However, the minimum spend is expected to increase incrementally by a further £1m over the next three years.

The number of clubs with Category One status was cut from 28 to 25 following audits this year, but Rovers passed once again to secure another three-year license and continue their commitment to the grading.

Jones feels there is increasing pressure on clubs, both financial and logistical, to maintain Category One status and when asked if it is becoming more elitist, he said: “Most definitely.

“From that side of things in terms of the minimum spend increasing that’s the idea behind it, that Category One is an elite level and it’s down to clubs to decide whether they want to pursue that.

“Where we’re fortunate is that we have owners who are really passionate about keeping Category One status and I’m sure will support us as we move forward.”

Rovers this weekend marked 600 consecutive games with at least one Academy graduate in a matchday squad.

Phil Jones was a big money departure in 2011, while Rovers sold David Raya to Brentford in 2019 for £3m.

Yet Rovers lost Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan, who made over 450 appearances between them, on free transfers in the summer.

While Rovers haven’t recouped transfer fees of late for their Academy graduates, they have contributed value through the number of matches they have played.

“From that side of things it’s not just about player sales because ultimately when players are in the first-team that’s really important, it’s not just about producing players and selling them for millions of pounds,” Jones added.

“It’s about getting them into the first-team and building assets.

“That’s ultimately what we’ll be judged on in terms of the return of investment.

“Players getting into the first-team is part of that, players getting sold to other clubs will be part of that.

“Ultimately, I think we’ve been really successful at the return of investment.”

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