In the past few seasons the club has had growing fears of how funding can be raised to fund football away from the first-team set-up, fears that have today accumulated in the total removal of the club's YTS and Centre of Excellence.
The dramatic shake-up sees around 120 boys from under-nine to under-sixteen age groups leaving the club's proud youth development system, with the club instead focusing upon a ‘core' of boys taken on as professionals as part of the first team squad.
Thus the roles of Steve Spooner, Darren Hayes and, perhaps more noticeably, long-time servant John Gaunt have all become redundant, and, as of today, are no-longer employees of Notts County Football Club.
“Sadly, as a result of continuing doubts over our ability to fund the Centre on an ongoing basis we have had to rethink our youth operation. This has been a very difficult decision for the Club to make. The Board wishes to thank Centre of Excellence Manager John Gaunt and his team for the excellent service they have given the club,” a statement on the club's official web-site read.
"Supply lines to scout, develop and acquire young professional footballers will continue to be kept open as always although we will now be focussing our energies on identifying young 16-18-year old players and developing them as part of our full professional squad.
"We believe this will give them even better chances of making progression into the first team.
This news follows the none-too surprising departure of assistant manager Ross MacLaren and part-time goalkeeping coach Steve Marcella, who walked on the club this morning, it is believed.