Inside Jamie Smith's plan to keep Derby County's assembly line rolling

Inside Jamie Smith's plan to keep Derby County's assembly line rolling

Derby County academy manager Jamie Smith has laid bare the challenges of keeping the club's brightest young talents out of the clutches of elite top-flight predators. Speaking on his vision for the Category A academy, Smith outlines the strict "20-game benchmark" for youth prospects, the impact of post-Brexit recruitment laws, and how the Rams plan to counter the financial might of the top division by offering a faster track to senior football.