Queens Park Rangers have formally stated their intention to apply for Category 1 academy classification.

Over the following 18 months, the R’s will strive to improve from their present Category 2 rank, with academy director Alex Carroll spearheading the ‘ambitious’ endeavor.

Christian Nourry, the West London club’s CEO, released a formal statement on Wednesday, revealing his thoughts on the potential application and what it means for the future.

QPR affirms its plan to submit a Category 1 academy status application

In an official club release, Nourry revealed a significant off-pitch update for QPR as they target the highest tier of academy classification.”This is an important next step for us as we look to develop and improve all aspects of the football club,” Nourry explained.

The promotion from Category 2 would put QPR’s academy on par with Premier League clubs, while only a few other Championship clubs, like Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, currently enjoy top rank.

Nourry continued, “The next 18 months will be a big task for our academy director Alex Carroll and his colleagues as they strive to satisfy the increasingly elevated standards that are expected by the relevant organizations in order for us to successfully upgrade from our existing Category 2 accreditation. If successful, this will be yet another watershed moment in the bright future that I feel we are all creating for this football club.”

Carroll thanked the club’s ownership group for their support and emphasized the importance of upgrading their young development approach.The academy football landscape in London is incredibly competitive, and this announcement reinforces our desire to compete against the top teams in our area – and nationally. The major investment in our facilities at TSG Training Centre will help us attract and keep the greatest talent for our academy, both on and off the field.

What reaching Category 1 status may imply for QPR

The most immediate impact of QPR’s proposed application being approved would be their participation in Premier League 2, the elite under-23 tournament that replaced the old U21 Premier League and contains 29 teams across two divisions.

As previously stated, the PL2 includes the academy sides of all current top-flight clubs. Reading, the only academy side whose first squad does not compete in the Premier League or Championship, is clearly in the third division.

According to the statement, Category 1 teams earn significantly greater annual payments per player across all age groups, which may help the R’s to expand their scouting network.

According to the statement, the update will provide additional security against the poaching of young players by ‘larger’ clubs. The laws and compensation systems would make it more difficult for competing academies to poach QPR’s finest prospects without paying the necessary fee.

Finally, for Rangers fans, this announcement represents a clear statement of intent from an ownership group that wants the club’s junior teams to compete at the greatest level possible while also attracting the best players to come and develop in West London.