Cardiff City have announced they will release 10 academy players next week as the youth structure prepares itself for an overhaul.
Bluebirds manager Neil Harris has stated on more than one occasion that one of his top priorities is to whip the academy into shape and revamp the production line of Welsh youngsters in the capital city.
However, a sizeable clear-out has just been announced by the club, with the manager, in conjunction with academy boss James McCarthy and under-23s manager Steve Morison, streamlining the clutch of talent the club has at its disposal.
The most notable casualty of the 10 names released by the club is Wales under-21 international Cameron Coxe, who was earmarked by many to succeed Lee Peltier and Jazz Richards when the time was right.
But Coxe, 21, has had precious little first-team football under Neil Warnock or Neil Harris and the latter decided it was best for him to be moved on.
Following a Carabao Cup outing under Warnock early in the season and two indifferent FA Cup displays against Carlisle under Harris, the Merthyr-born Coxe, with just four senior appearances under his belt, will join a clutch of players heading for the exit door.
"It's always a shame to let players go," Harris said back in February when WalesOnline learned Coxe, who last year was scouted by Premier League champions Manchester City, would not be offered fresh terms.
"It's tough with players. Some were quite straightforward decisions, some were a little bit tougher.
"Someone like Cam, for example, at his age, you have to look at it and make joint decisions with players and agents.
"When players are 18 or 19, you have to look at the development and how much they can improve.
"Then you look at players at 21, 22 or 23 and they are still playing under-23s football, sometimes you just have to let them go and get on with their careers and say, 'I hope you do well and have a career in league football'.
"If they are not going to be in the first team in the next six to 12 months, sometimes you just have to let them move on."
The other name which will perhaps grab some attention is Sion Spence, the classy playmaker who has been described as 'clever and creative' on the ball.
The 19-year-old, who was selected for the under-23s side when he was just 16, netted 11 goals in 15 appearances during Cardiff's PDL2 South title triumph last year.
He also won the Academy Player of the Year award in the 2017/18 season.
Here is a list of the 10 professionals, in addition to Matthew Connolly, Jazz Richards and Omar Bogle, released by Cardiff City
- Warren Burwood
- Cameron Coxe
- Connor Davies
- Jacob Evans
- Lloyd Humphries
- Trystan Jones
- Shamar Moore
- Ryan Pryce
- Sion Spence
- Laurence Wootton
Harry Pinchard and Sam Parsons are both under-18s players who have not been offered professional deals.
