Age no barrier, says Coppell

Coppell wants to stop the Seagulls losing talented teenagers to other clubs by offering them more opportunities.

His pledge follows an impressive performance by James Milner, Swindon's 17-year-old loan signing from Leeds, against Albion at Withdean on Saturday.

Adam Hinshelwood and Dan Harding have already featured regularly in Coppell's first team plans this season and 16-year-old hotshot Jake Robinson has also caught his eye.

Robinson, a first year scholar, lines up again for the reserves today in their first home league game against Colchester at Worthing (3pm) after scoring on his debut last week.

"He had a couple of sessions with us pre-season," Coppell said. "This club has got to be about encouraging young players.

"There is a hell of a catchment area here and we cannot afford to go out and buy players.

"What I don't want to see is players being nicked at 15, 16, 17 and 18, which has happened here in the past.

"Realistically it's pointless young players going to the big clubs now because they are just going to buy foreign players.

"I would like who ever signs for us to know age is no barrier as far as I am concerned.

"I want all the young kids to think this is a good club to join because they are going to use us.

"I will certainly push on young players if I think they are good enough.

"We've had progress in the first team this year with Hinsh and Tickle (Harding). Jake is as bright as anything and he can cope physically with it.

"It would be easy for us to play the tried and tested in the reserves but I want to encourage him to play.

"We've got a very promising young goalkeeper as well (Chris May) who will get an opportunity sooner rather than later."

Shaun Wilkinson is not in the reserves as he has joined Havant and Waterlooville on a month's loan.

Albion Reserves: Flitney; El-Abd, Virgo, Pethick, Harding, Lee, Hammond, Piercy, B. Watson, McPhee, Robinson. Subs: Windsor, C. May, Breach, Elphick, Fillery.