Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl insists he will continue to give young players a chance in the first-team.
Saints recently announced that they would be turning their U23 side into a 'B' team, calling the move a "structural and philosophical overhaul".
The move allows the Austrian to have more control of developing the club's youngsters.
Hasenhuttl told the Daily Echo: "Absolutely it was a long-term decision we took, working with our Playbook, bringing staff from the first team to develop the staff in the academy and this has made a very good start.
"I think you could immediately see an identity in the youth teams now and this is the way we want to go.
"It was a big project over the summer. It seems that it's going in the right direction. Matt Crocker does a fantastic job there, Craig Fleming and Kelvin Davis, they are very responsible for this development.
"The youth staff are happy about getting info from us and getting support from us. We are now a big family if you want.
"Everybody is taking care of each other and I think this is what should make us special."