KENNY Shiels told Herald Sport last night that Falkirk’s decision to withdraw funding for the Forth Valley football academy is “morally wrong”.

The Derry City manager, head coach of the project between 2014 and 2015, hit out at the move by directors to axe their respected youth scheme to focus resources on the first team. “I am very disappointed and I am sure Alex Smith is distraught,” said Shiels.

“It is none of my business now what Falkirk do but I am really disappointed for the young players especially. What people don’t understand at board level is the bond that playing football can bring, the rewards even for the ones who don’t make it.

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"There is a fantastic camaraderie and spirit, and it is great to experience that. A few days before Christmas, young people have been hit with that bombshell and coaches as well. It is morally wrong in my opinion and the timing is very, very poor.

“If I was still in position, I would ask the people making these decisions to come and spend a night in the academy. When I was there, not one of the directors or the board, were present at a game or a training session. They have deprived the young people of such an opportunity.

“If you are going down the route of loaning players the club is losing its identity. They can say to Rangers or Celtic ‘you bring the players up and anyone you don’t want bring to us at 19’, but there is no identity, no relationship with the club that way, no passion. I am really annoyed about it.”