AUSTRALIA Under-17 boss Tony Vidmar believes A-League clubs should invest in younger players in a bid to reap the most benefits for clubs and the game in this country.

Vidmar says for all the ills of the now-defunct NSL, one thing it did well and often was blood teenagers who eventually made their mark in the game, later representing the Socceroos and earning good contracts in Europe.

“The opportunities to play are becoming less and less for young players,’’ Tony Vidmar said. “I think you can bring in good youngsters who can play at that level and there are some NPL players who have been brought into the A-League and I don’t think they’re up to it.

“You can bring in a young player and in three or four years he may have played 90-odd games and they’re all ambitious. They can go to a club and then you can sell them and by that time you’re producing more players - I think clubs can still do it.”

South Australia’s former NSL clubs Adelaide City and West Adelaide weren’t afraid to play youngsters as young as 15 or 16 and gave them good game time.

City handed former Socceroos Aurelio and Tony Vidmar, Ross and John Aloisi their debuts before their 18th birthdays, Tony Dorigo became an England international after he was selected for City pre-season friendlies at the age of 15 and Carl Veart broke into the side as a 19-year-old from Salisbury United.

All earned contracts abroad.

West also discovered former Socceroo striker Paul Agostino when he was 16.

He became a star striker at TSV 1860 Munich, while Lou Christodoulou made his debut for West at 18 before earning legend status at Panathinaikos in Greece.

Vidmar said A-League coaches and clubs had no reason not to blood teenagers given there was no threat of relegation and six of the 10 clubs qualified for finals.

“Clubs and coaches are afraid that if they don’t get results they’re gone,’’ he said.

“I don’t think they should look at it that way. They’ll keep spending money on foreigners constantly. But you can also produce young players, make some money (in the transfer market) and also save some money (for the salary cap).”

Vidmar also claimed the gap between the A-League and NPL is becoming far too great.

And, once a young player falls out of the A-League system it’s very hard to bounce back, he added.