"?Southampton Executive Director of Football Les Reed has revealed plans for the club to strike up formal partnerships with teams in the Football League in an attempt to give young Saints players the best opportunity to develop as competition for places at St Mary's gets fiercer.
Reed explained that in recent years the likes of Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse have been able to get straight into the first-team, but that is no longer instantly possible with more and players brought in from elsewhere.
"It's a consequence of success," Reed conceded when speaking to Saintsfc.co.uk.
"When you strengthen the first-team squad and you're competing at the top of the Premier League, it's harder for players to actually get in the squad. What's important at this stage of their development is games under their belt. It's something we take very seriously."
The likes of Lloyd Isgrove, Jack Stephens, Jordan Turnbull, Dominic Gape, Sam Gallagher, Ryan Seager (pictured, below), Sam McQueen and others all spent time on loan at various clubs in the Championship and League One in 2015/16.
"We haven't loaned players out in the past because they've come completely through on the journey and got into the team," Reed said, adding that he wasn't satisfied will all of the loans arranged and stating that more care needs to be taken.
"I'm meeting with Championship and League One clubs who would like to develop partnerships with us. It's not just about the Saturday, it's about everything they do out on loan."
Chelsea currently have a relationship with Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, while Manchester United have previously worked with Royal Antwerp in Belgium. For Reed, looking to the continent is also an option to give youngsters and even broader base of experience.
"That's so our players can get the benefit of the European type of experience. There is work being done on that front as well, to make sure the loans are meaningful and a stepping stone into our team," he said.
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