Argyle resolute over young talent

By [cerrington]

PLYMOUTH Argyle are confident of holding onto their top schoolboy talent, despite interest from Premier League predators.

That includes defender Jamie Richards, who has been strongly linked with Everton, and midfielder Dan Hart, a reported target for Arsenal.

Richards and Hart are among nine young prospects from Argyle's centre of excellence who have been offered two-year apprentice contracts, starting next season.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock would not be drawn on the speculation surrounding Richards and Hart.

But he said: "We know there is a lot of interest in some of our younger players at this minute in time. I have talked to several clubs about them."

Sturrock added: "We are in the middle of negotiations with nine players from the under-16s to sign apprentice forms, and more than half have signed so far.

"They have 28 days to agree to sign, and we are very hopeful the nine players will be call-ups for next season."

One national newspaper reported last Friday that Richards would be training with Everton this week.

It was Everton, of course, who signed Dan Gosling as a 17-year-old prospect from Argyle for £1 million in January 2008.

Interest from top English clubs in Argyle's teenage talent is not a new occurrence.

Last year, Aaron Spear was snapped up by Newcastle United at the age of 15.

Newcastle paid Argyle an undisclosed compensation fee for Spear, who has played for the Magpies' reserves this season.

Richards, who is not 16 until next June, can play in the centre of defence or at left-back.

He lives in Newton Abbot and is a student at South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton. Originally from Essex, he was on Southend United's books before moving to Devon and signing for Argyle when he was still only nine-years-old. Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with Richards.

Hart, who will be 16 in May, comes from Plympton and attends Ridgeway School.

He has also been at Argyle's centre of excellence since he was aged nine.

Hart captained Ridgeway to the final of the ESFA Under-15 Schools Cup last season, when they were beaten 1-0 by Walbottle Campus Technology College from Newcastle.