JANI Uotinen says he is impressed by the strides Morton have made in terms of their youth development since his time as a player at the club.

The 36-year-old has six years of experience coaching at academy level and currently heads up Finnish second-tier side FC Jazz’s youth programme.

As a result, he took a keen interest in the Cappielow club’s youth system during his recent week-long visit to Greenock.

He met Derek Anderson as well as taking in training sessions at various age levels and attending the Under-20s’ Development League West match at Ayr United.

And the structures and practices he witnessed left Uotinen optimistic that the club can reap the benefits in the years to come.

He told the Tele: “I watched the Under-15s and 17s training on the Friday and saw Derek Anderson on the Wednesday when he was working with the Under-13s. The training was good.

“So I have a clear picture what is happening with the youth football at Morton, and I have a good feeling about what they are doing.

“I can see it is good. They have really put effort into it and they have built it up. I think they are on a good road.” The current system is relatively new having been put in place by Warren Hawke just under three years ago.

And Uotinen believes patience will be the key as it will take time before the efforts really begin to bear fruit.

He explained: “Of course, it takes time to see the results.

“When you talk about youth football, people always expect that it should happen the next day.

“Even in first-team football people think things should happen the next day — but it’s not like that.

“You see the results of youth football for the first time around five years after you start.” A development that really caught the former midfielder’s attention has been the installation of several astroturf pitches across Inverclyde.

He concluded: “Speaking of the youth sector, I think one of the biggest changes I have noticed locally since my time here is the facilities.

“I could see it while travelling around the area.

“If you think, there is: Battery Park, Parklea, Inverclyde Academy and more, the names of which I do not know.

“It’s brilliant! We just need to make sure the young boys are out playing football all the time, because they have the opportunity to do it now.”