Russell Slade admits Cardiff got it wrong allowing teenage star Regan Poole to slip through their fingers.

The 17-year-old centre-back made his debut for Manchester United on Thursday night – four years after being released from the Bluebirds academy.

Poole came on as a sub in the 5-1 Europa League victory over Danish outfit Midtylland following his move from Newport County in a deal that could be worth up to £400,000 to the Exiles.

Slade, 55, said: “You set up a youth policy and academy and you don’t want to lose potential – and it is potential at that age – and quality.

“Occasionally players get away because people develop at different rates, but clearly a decision was made at that time and they got it wrong.

“It’s something out of my control, you can’t control what happens in past – but if I was manager here at the time you’d want to know the reasons why that materialised, why a player who in three or four years time made his debut for Manchester United was let go.”

Poole’s release was said to be down to his size before he went on to play for the Splott-based St Albans in the Cardiff&District League.

He joined County in the summer of 2014 – becoming their youngest ever player at 16 a few weeks later – before moving to United last September.

Slade added: “I don’t know the reasons but I don’t think size should be an issue at that age.

“Some players don’t stop growing until 18 or 19. Players can be late developers, those who look athletically too short can come good.

“It is becoming a rarity for players to be looked over because of the scrutiny and coaching that exists in football clubs, the scouting and networks weren’t aggressive and strong in the past as is it now.

“They can get away but not something that happens so much in the modern day.”
endig