Brentford's category two academy is to close just three years after it opened and six from when the project first started, Getwestlondon understands.

The club have been conducting a detailed review about the academy over the past few months and it is understood the club have made the decision to close, rather than downgrade.

Head of Recruitment Shaun O'Connor and his assistant Miguel Rios both departed for Arsenal in 2014 and Fulham in November 2015 respectively while the academy's head of coaching Stuart English also left the Bees to join Birmingham last October.

Were it to close, it would mark a stark change in mood in the club, with owner Matthew Benham planning to upgrade the club's centre of excellence into an academy back in 2010.

Brentford, then a League One club, built their academy at Uxbridge High School which was awarded category two status; the only third tier club to be awarded that level.

It became operational in late 2013 and was officially opened in January 2014 and Ose Aibangee predicted that a Brentford academy graduate would play for England by 2019.

The U15 side, which included recent debutant Tom Field, won the Milk Cup in 2012, beating Everton and Liverpool on the way to glory. The class of 2014 won the Junior Globe competition.

Earlier this month, Josh Bohui has also been called up by England for the U17 European Championships, while the mood at the club, certainly in March, was a positive one about its future.

The club was approached for a comment, but had nothing to say at this time.