Former Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley says Liverpool's decision to introduce £40,000-a-year salary cap for academy players is a welcome development.
The Anfield club have made the move in order to encourage young players to focus on their development rather than the distractions that come with life on the cusp of the Premier League.
Carsley, who is now an under-18 coach at Manchester City joined Off The Ball co-presenter and former team-mate Kevin Kilbane on Thursday night's show to give his take on what Liverpool have decided to do.
"I think it's just Liverpool's way of trying to control what they're doing and the way that they're spending their money and the kind of players that they're going to be attracting, so I think it's good in many ways. If it works, it's greats. Each to their own," he said.
"If you're 15, 16 as a parent and you're getting shown around the facilities that a Liverpool, Man City, Man United, Tottenham have got and the kind of experiences and the kind of coaching and chances that they're going to get, I think the money's almost irrelevant. I know it's an important part of it but there's a lot more things to take into consideration than just the money side of it. If the player gets through into the first team and does well, the rewards are there for everyone to see. But I think at an early age, it's more about the environment that they're in, coaching that they're going to receive, the chances that they're going to get, the pathway that's in front of them, the kind of players that they're going to be playing with. So there's a lot more to take into consideration."
And Carsley believes it is an idea that may interest other clubs.
"The fact that Liverpool are going down the route of introducing a wage cap, I'm sure it's something a lot of clubs will be happy to hear," he said.
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