Previous boss Steve Evans was firmly focused on experience, but new manager David Flitcroft champions youth and is keen to link the club’s sides up at all levels to provide a visible route.
Radford said: “David will put his team together but, on the new training ground they will be playing alongside the academy every day and I’d like to see a few of our kids get out there on that pitch. I’d love that to happen whether it’s by default or not.
“We have a fantastic academy that’s won the league three times – and it’s not an easy league to win. I’d like to see some of those players coming through.
“Last season they were not given a sniff to be honest as went out and bought players that were the ‘best in this league’.”
Club CEO Carolyn Radford added: “We’ve had Jack Thomas here in my time and it was great being able to shout ‘one of our own’.
“Now I think we have the infrastructure in there to develop more players to make it through.”