Reading FC to face reduced youth fixture list after status reshuffle

PL2 is a two-tier structure made up of 28 teams with Cat 1 status, the highest accolade an English Academy can have.

The Royals finished bottom of PL2 Division Two last campaign, but clubs cannot be relegated from the league and so will compete there again from August.

Six years ago, we lost a great, great man 💙

His smile still welcomes everyone who comes through the entrance of our @RFCAcademy building 😊

Eamonn will never be forgotten 🙏#oneofourown pic.twitter.com/VzGWcWryBs

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) June 20, 2022

Recently-relegated Burnley look set to have their Academy demoted to Category Two after failing their four-day on-site audit.

The Clarets were awarded the status in 2020 on a two-year provisional basis due to Covid-19 limiting in-person audits, but have been stripped of this after a meeting with the Professional Game Board [PGB].

The Lancashire-based side had finished sixth in the PL2 Division Two table last season.

West Brom have retained theirs on a provisional basis, meaning they will have a further inspection by PGAAC will take place during the 2022/23 season or face losing their status.

West Brom will continue as Cat 1, yes.

BUT... on a provisional basis dependent on meeting certain action points. Or else they will lose Cat 1.

It's not a full licence. Special measures isn't the term that's officially used but we thought it was most accurate description. https://t.co/zlpAznbTvL

— Training Ground Guru (@ground_guru) June 21, 2022

Nottingham Forest have been granted a one-year Category One licence but face another inspection by auditors during the 2022/23 season after being granted a provisional Category One licence last season.

The Baggies were ninth last time out while Forest were as high as fourth.

This all comes a month on from the news that Birmingham City have been demoted to Cat 2, meaning the second tier of PL2 will have 12 teams instead of 14.