Academy Director Steve Holland is set to decide on the future of 14 young players over the next few days as the clubs management staff make decisions on which scholars will be offered professional terms for next season.
With FA rules on the way the Academy is run changing this season, it means all of the clubs second and third year scholars must either be awarded a professional contract, or allowed to leave at the end of the season, meaning 14 youngsters are anxiously awaiting their fate.
"It's a difficult time for us, but an even more difficult time for them," Steve told Crewe Alex World this week
"We will have some decisions to make over the next few days because this season we have to make decisions on the second years as well as as the third years."
Of the third year scholars Billy Jones, Nicky Maynard and Gary Roberts have already signed professional contracts, but four more have their futures undecided.
"We have to make a decision on Cavell Coo and Mark Carrington, who has been on loan at Leigh RMI recently," Steve said
"Then we also have Adam Warlow, who has had a terrible time with injuries and who has gained some time back because of that, and also Owain fon Williams, who also got some time back after missing a season due to a broken leg.
"In addition to that we have nine or ten second year scholars to make decision on as well."
With just two FA Premier Academy League games remaining this season, at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday and away to Manchester United the following weekend, the players don't have long to impress, although Steve admitted decisions won't be made based solely on the last few matches.
"We base our decisions on the whole season not just the past couple of games," Steve revealed
"It's a pressurised time for the lads as they wait the decisions. I know all about it because I was released by Derby County at this same stage when I was a teenager. But the players have to learn how to cope under pressure. The first team have been playing under pressure every game for the past two months, and have coped well with it, so the younger lads have to learn to deal with that too."
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