FORMER Forest Green boss and Leeds United head coach David Hockaday is set to open a new talent academy in Wiltshire to train and develop Under-16 players.

In 2014, he lasted  70 days at Leeds United under left-field Italian own Massimo Cellinio and has worked for Swindon Supermarine and Coventry since then.

Hockaday, 57, set up England's first football academy in Cirencester in the 1990s and has worked in academy football at Watford and Southampton and is regarded as one of the brightest youth coaches in the game.

"After 20 years I've returned to it and will set up a super football academy," he told BBC Wiltshire.

"Twenty years ago I established the first football academy in this country, long before the academies we see in the pro game today. They followed my blueprint."

Now he is turning his attention to developing young players in Wiltshire, an area he calls a "black hole" of talent.

"If you are an Under-16 player and think you are an exceptional, or you know someone who fits that description, then my academy will be the place for you," he said.

"The academy I had 20 years ago was the best and won everything. I don't shy away from the words elite and excellent and winning.

So I am going to set up the best academy in the area and then the country and I want the best local talent to come to my trials and see if they can get into my academy."

He added: "I believe massively in the talent in this country.

"We go wrong from the 15 to 19 age group which I call the twilight zone, I want to fill that gap.

"I had great success at Cirencester 20 years ago. People develop at different time scales, I believe there is a lot of talent in this country but there is no patience."