IMAGINE this team in York City red: Russ Howarth, Graeme Murty, Chris Hogg, Steve Tutill, Curtis Woodhouse, Darren Williams, Steve Bushell, Lee Bullock, Cameron Stuart, Jonathan Greening and Richard Cresswell.

Not bad eh. And if you were to pitch that aforementioned X1 against any of the Minstermen sides that have just eked out a miserable 17th place from a wretched opening term in the Conference (jeez, the Conference of all places), I know who I would plump for. I'm certain too that the majority of right-thinking, much put-upon City fans would prefer the formation that sadly could never have played together.

But why pinpoint the above X1 and why now? In the wake of Paul Stancliffe's imminent departure as City's head of youth development, it is timely that the merits of the club's lauded youth policy be revisited.

Stancliffe's exit has heightened fears that there might be a scaling down of the club's youth initiative. Even if finances are tighter than ever before -- thanks yet again Bootham Crescent Holdings -- it cannot be allowed to happen as it will prove one of the most short-sighted measures any City board might take.

What all the above players have in common is that they started or came through City's youth programme, a venture that has been the backbone of the club for more than a decade.

And if that production line was not evidence enough of the benefits of following a concerted youth programme, then consider the conservative estimate of just how much those 11 realised for City -- more than £2.5million.

While that sum may fall well short of Rio Ferdinand's current annual wage, let alone a preposterous push to take him to a reported £120,000 a week, it is a figure that kept City going even during its most prudent years. Without it the club's free-fall into the Conference -- maybe even oblivion -- may have been suffered much earlier than being the catalyst of the BCH fiasco.

Let's get it right. City have always been a departure lounge ever since their origins when Reg Stockill -- youngest league scorer in Minstermen history - went to Arsenal, via Scarborough, in 1931 for the princely sum of £850.

That trend has continued. During the halcyon days of the mid-1980s when record points hauls were totalled City starlet John Byrne was off-loaded.

Over the last two decades the cash noose has tightened further as the rich got richer and the poor -- well they could go and be hanged unless they could come up with any other form of revenue. City's concerted youth programme, which gained greater financial muscle under the Douglas Craig years, has been manna from heaven.

Now more than ever it is paramount the club retain that so solid commitment. The knowledgeable Stancliffe, who has helped nurture some of the club's brightest prospects, selflessly remarked that the success of the youth programme was as much a reflection on the set-up at the Crescent rather than just himself or fellow coach Brian Neaves, also to soon leave.

Stancliffe's parting shot was to re-iterate that there was a crop of emerging talent coming through the ranks as good as he had known in his eight years as an integral part of the youth programme.

The mini-army dedicated to bringing youngsters through need the club's backing now more than at any time, especially as they have lost such a commanding focal-point and presence as Stancliffe. Here's a man, who, as a player, excelled at the highest domestic level and captained City to their Wembley heights. For parents of would-be young City colts he was a man who could be trusted and relied upon.

His exit is a massive loss to City, but even more injurious would be any dilution of a programme that has brought so much. Let it remain feted to succeed not fated to recede.

Updated: 08:46 Tuesday, April 26, 2005