In a move aimed at enhancing the development of the club's youngsters, Altrincham have successfully relocated one of the Academy teams to a new division.

Alty have, this season, had two sides in the two under-19s National Leagues, one in the North Division and the other in Division H.

However, a 28-day rule that exists in the National League stipulates that any player switching from one of a club's Academy teams to another cannot return to the side he originally represented in either of the National League's divisions for 28 days.

The intention is to make it a more level playing field, but the restriction on freedom of movement has created difficulties for Alty at times when drafting players from one squad into another would have been an ideal option to cover for injury or illness.

The decision was therefore taken to withdraw the Division H team from the National League and place them in the AOC North West Invitational League, a transition that will free Alty's Academy from the 28-day rule's limitations and that the club are pleased to announce has now been completed.

'I'm delighted with the pathway we have put in place for under-16s to under-19s at Altrincham Football Club,' said Academy manager Paul Fay (pictured). 'For this to continue, we had to ensure there was more fluidity for the players, and that has now been achieved with this step we have taken.

'I am pleased the board have approved the move, and I wholeheartedly believe it is one that will be of huge benefit to the future development of our young players.'