St Albans City joint-manager, Jimmy Gray, thinks that some of his players could make the step up to league football – if they are given the right coaching.

He said: “I’ve got maybe two or three in my squad that can [step up].

“They need to be consistently good playing at this level. And obviously they need to be spotted – and we do get a lot of scouts coming down here.

“It’s highly likely that it could happen. We have got some good young talent coming through that with a little bit more time and better coaching at a full-time level could make the grade.”

That switch to full-time is something Gray believes would help City compete with the best teams in the National League South.

“I want to try and get us a full-time training venue so that we can turn into a full-time club,” he said.

“Over the next few seasons, with the vision the club have got, that’s one thing that we are looking to do.

“Probably 50 per cent of the teams in this league train three to four times a week.

“That is something we would love to do.”

And at the same time, he would like to bring more players into the first team from the youth set-up, as long as they are good enough.

He added: “One ethos that the club has got is to try and bring more local St Albans boys through.

“They have to be good enough first and foremost but with the grant [from the Football Conference Trust] it gives them an opportunity to get good coaching.

“Not just in football, it’s a lot about fitness and lifestyle.

“It could go a long way to help youngsters coming through to St Albans’ First Team.”