It's the time of the year when agonising decisions will soon be made about the futures of Latics trainees.

There will either be joy as youngsters are handed their first professional contracts or disappointment as their dreams are cruelly cut short.

Tony Philliskirk, Latics' head of youth development, is at the forefront of those decisions and he admits it is never an easy time with so much riding on them.

He says while it has been an inconsistent season in the North West Youth Alliance, he says two or three of the second-year trainees have done particularly well and the bigger picture is the development of players as football at that level is not driven by results.

Philliskirk points to the likes of striker Tom Eaves, winger Phillip McGrath and midfield man Djeny Bembo-Leta who have all featured in the first team in the current campaign.

And he says further down the line that he has been particularly impressed by the way in which the first-year trainees have performed.

He said: "The next four to six weeks is an important time for the second years and hopefully some of them will get a chance in the reserves in the coming weeks to make an impression on the senior staff.

"I would be surprised if a couple don't get a professional contract while in the first-year group there are four or five who have shown real potential."

Philliskirk added that had the first team been in a position of safety in Coca-Cola League One some of the youngsters would probably be getting games in the first team.

He said: "I can understand the manager's point of view as it is a difficult time to throw 16 and 17-year-old lads into what has become a relegation scrap is probably too much of an ask and that is why he has gone for experience.

"The young players we have mentioned have done well this season, especially Tom who recently had a cameo role when he came off the bench for the first team at Leeds."

Latics also have high hopes for McGrath, who has featured for Northern Ireland under-19s, though his season has been hampered by a succession of  impact injuries.

Philliskirk says McGrath, who has electrifying pace, has shown great potential and hopefully he can steer clear of injury in the remainder of the season.

He is also continually looking to the future by introducing schoolboys into the youth team whenever possible saying it is a good yardstick how lads of 15/16 years can handle playing for the under-18s.

Philliskirk also coaches the centre of excellence under-16s so he can assess the progress of those players who provide the nucleus of the intake of first-year trainees.

He said: "It is important for their natural progression that I work with them at the centre of excellence so it is not a shock when they come here as they will know what to expect.

"I integrate them whenever I can, but you have to be careful as these boys only train two nights each week and who are competing against lads who are training every day.

"We have to be careful how we manage them physically as it is a big ask for them to compete at that level every week.

"I don't expect them to pull up trees and be outstanding players when they are only aged 15 and they are playing against 18-year-olds. But by the same time you can see the ones who can mentally as well as physically cope with playing against older players."

Looking further ahead, Philliskirk describes 18/19 year old players as often being in a "black hole."

He explained that there are few of these players who are ready for the first team, but most clubs don't have the time as well as the cash to allow them to develop.

Philliskirk said: "You have to remember lads are still growing physically until the age of 21 and that is where clubs and managers have to be brave to give them time to develop rather than releasing them aged 18/19.

"Clubs also have to understand the predicament of managers by acknowledging a player may not be ready now for the first team, but they could be good players when they are aged 20/21.

"We are making decisions about players at the age of 18/19 when realistically only one or two will be ready for the first team at that age. They need time, but that is something you don't get  in the modern game."