Stoke City Chairman Peter Coates has admitted the club is desperate to develop more local talent.
18-year-old Ollie Shenton is the only Stoke academy graduate to progress to the first team in the Potters' Premier League era, and Coates admits that Premier League clubs are finding it hard to promote local talent.
"We are desperate to bring young players through," the Stoke Chairman told The Sentinel.
"I would like to see half-a-dozen players on the bench who are academy products. But we are not there yet.
"What we are doing as a nation is improving the technical ability of British players across the board.
"The problem we have is the 18 to 22 age group and how we can continue their training and education in competitive football.
"It is difficult to make the transition into Premier League football unless you are an exceptional player.
"The problem is the step up from academy football to Premier League football.
The only avenue we have is the loan system.
"The FA know it's a problem, the clubs know it's a problem, and we can't find a solution."