AGE will not be a barrier to first-team opportunities with Barnet next season.
Fifteen players have already left the club since the end of the last season including experienced trio Ricky Holmes, Clovis Kamdjo and John Oster.
At least two more are expected to head out the door, with strike-duo Jon Nurse (pictured) and Jake Hyde on the transfer list.
And Bees assistant manager Ulrich Landvreugd has urged the club’s youngsters to seize their chance following the exodus.
“It’s up to them to step up,” he said.
“I can say a lot of things but for us age isn’t a problem, if you’re 36, 41, or 18, the best player plays. It’s as simple as that.”
Landvreugd hopes the likes of Jamal Lowe and George Sykes can follow in the footsteps of other starlets at the club and force their way into the first-team picture.
Sykes found the back of the net on 24 occasions last season for the Under-18s making him the top goalscorer in the Professional Development League across the country.
His form earned him the accolade of LFE League Two Apprentice of the Year whilst he was also reportedly the subject of interest from Premier League giants Tottenham and Liverpool.
He made his senior debut for Barnet last year and Landvreugd believes the 18-year-old possesses sufficient quality to make an impact this season.
“George did very well last season,” he said.
“He was with the U18s and he was one of the biggest talents in the league, maybe the biggest.”
“It’s going to be tough for him this season because it is a higher level playing in the first-team, but if he’s doing well like last season and learns a lot from the guys already here he could definitely play some minutes.”
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