Aley (left) joined the Sandgrounders youth system at 15

Southport head of youth development Haydn Preece says he has high hopes for young striker Zac Aley who has joined Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

The 19-year-old has joined the reserve team ranks at Ewood Park after coming through the Sandgrounders youth system.

"We're hoping for him to play in the Premier League in the next 18 months," Reece told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"To sign for Blackburn is a tremendous achievement for Zac. Hopefully he's on the ladder to international stardom."

He added: "Zac has studied with us as a scholar for the last 18 months. He's achieved his BTec's and his NVQ's and he's a qualified referee now and he's on the ladder of FA coaching badges."

There is a lot of movement within the club and there is a lot of development of individual players Southport head of youth development Hayden Preece

Preece indicated Aley is not the only player to come through the club's academy who can make an impact at a higher level.

"We've not just had Zac transferred to Blackburn," said Preece. "We've had Liam Willis transferred to Wigan Athletic and we've had Russell Benjamin move at the end of his first season to Rochdale.

"So there is a lot of movement within the club and there is a lot of development of individual players. We've done so well to move so quickly."

The former Southport chief executive says the club have been breaking new ground in improving their academy facilities in the past 18 months.

"We're the first non league club in the country to be funded by the Learning Skills Council to set-up a full academy system from a scholarship, education and coaching format," he continued.

"It's exactly mirroring any football league league club. We have several players coming through and Zac is the first.

"We have a conveyor belt of players coming through and it depends on what we can attract. We're now showing what we can do."

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