WHEN Chris Hackett left Oxford United to join Hearts in 2006, the club’s youth development programme was virtually non-existent.

Emerging talent in the county was being snapped up by rival clubs as the effects of cost-cutting were brought home.

Ironically, the winger came through the ranks at United and was part of arguably the best group of youngsters to make the transition from youth team to first team just before the turn of the century.

The likes of Hackett, Dean Whitehead, Paul Powell, Jamie Brooks, Simon King and Sam Ricketts broke in to the squad and went on to make their mark.

Not long after that, the plug was pulled on youth development and the conveyor belt of talent stopped.

But things have now gone full circle and Hackett is hoping to play his part in the next cycle of promising youngsters.

Now 33, the former county sprint champion is back helping coach United’s under 15 side on a part-time basis.

He is relishing his role, and says the feelgood factor about the club is back.

“It’s a very stable club now and I think people have seen that young players will get an opportunity to play for the first team here if they are good enough,” he said.

“I was regularly involved with the first team at 17 or 18, but there was a spell in more recent years where youngsters did not get their chance at that age.

“But I don’t think that’s the case any more and that is a real incentive for the young lads coming through.”

Hackett has been involved for the past month or so and is loving the challenge.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “I am just trying to give the lads advice where I can and of course I have been in their position.

“I’ve been doing my coaching badges for the last few years. Football has been my life so it’s good to keep all your options open.

“It would be silly just to let that go. I love football too much to not be involved in it.”

He added: “I have lots of knowledge of the playing side, but lots to learn as a coach.

“You pick different things up from different people along the way – and I have certainly played under a number of managers where you can do that.”

Hackett feels the biggest issue clubs such as Oxford face is making sure local talent comes to them, not bigger, rival clubs.

“I don’t see any reason why the best young players in the area would not be at Oxford United,” he said.

“There is no better feeling than being a local lad playing for your home-town club. It’s the biggest buzz there is.

“A few years ago I think the club lost some of those young players to other clubs.

“But I think that’s changing now. The club are focused on making sure they get local players to come here.

“When I was coming through the ranks here, all the best players in Oxfordshire were at Oxford United.

“And there’s no reason why that will not be the case again now.”

CHRIS Hackett has not given up hope of playing again, but the offer has to be right.

The winger is still without a club since leaving Northampton in the summer, but has turned down offers to get back in the game.

“I had an injury-hit season last year,” he said.

“I had offers from clubs, but they were not right logistically for me.

“I am settled in Oxford with my family and my children go to school in the city so any move has to be right for me.

“I had options to go abroad, but I am in a transitional stage of my career so it would have to fit in. But I’d like to play on if possible.”