Nuneaton Borough today announced major plans to create a new soccer academy.

The club, currently leading the way in the Dr Martens Premier Division, is hoping to produce a steam of young soccer talent to aid their push for the Football League.

They have linked up with the North Warwickshire and Hinckley Colleges who will put the 16-18-year-olds through further education.

Borough chairman Phil Clayton said the initiative was to give local youngsters the best of all worlds.

He said:

"Hopefully some of the lads will go on to become professionals having played for us and if they don’t quite make it then they have the backing of a very good further education.

"They will go to the colleges but have football training with a professional coach every day. They will play for their college in the British Schools League and then for Nuneaton at the weekend.

"It is just as vital for us as any league club to attract the best talent in the area. We want to improve the quality of our squad and develop the players accordingly. We have to be able to offer them and their parents a complete package that works on a football and education level.

"The idea has been formed and we are quite far down the line but we will be launching the scheme next month."