Swansea City insist there are currently no plans to sell their academy set-up at Landore, but admit it is one area of the club under constant financial review.
Reports emerged on Friday night in the national media suggesting the Swans were ready to sell the academy complex in order to raise funds for the January window.
A club source has told WalesOnline that those reports of an imminent sale are wide of the mark, but there are nevertheless questions over its long-term future as the Swans continue to face up to the realities of Premier League relegation.
The reduction in parachute payments has placed an even greater financial burden on the club, with the club's budget set to be hit by around £15m next season.
Chairman Trevor Birch has already questioned the affordability of two training grounds while speaking at a recent fans' forum, but he has not yet made any decision on its long-term future.
Despite previous reports to the contrary, it’s also understood manager Steve Cooper has not been briefed on any possible sale.
Selling the Category One complex would almost certainly be a deeply unpopular move with supporters, with the current set-up responsible for the development of the likes of Oli McBurnie, Daniel James, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts in recent years.
A proposed move to the first team complex at Fairwood would certainly leave the academy’s Category One status at risk, but club insiders believe it wouldn’t take too much to bring facilities up to scratch and preserve its elite status.
The importance of retaining the standard of the academy has not been lost on the club’s hierarchy, but the need to secure the club’s long-term future means that a future restructuring cannot be ruled out.
It’s not the first time the future of the academy has come into question.
Back in April, it was the subject of a full review by Birch and the rest of the hierarchy, who concluded the academy’s Category One status would be kept this season.
