Eoin Jess believes in-demand Aberdeen youngsters Calvin Ramsay and Connor Barron are destined for the top – something Stephen Glass deserves big credit for.
The Dons hero has been impressed with the latest academy graduates to follow in his footsteps by making a name for themselves at Pittodrie.
Liverpool and Leeds United are both keen on Ramsay while Celtic are keeping a close eye on Barron.
Glass’s managerial rein at Aberdeen ended prematurely after a poor spell but Jess reckons giving Ramsay and Barron the exposure they have had has been invaluable and could add millions on to their price tags if these big clubs do come calling.
Jess said: “You have to praise Stephen for having the foresight to give Calvin Ramsay and Connor Barron their chance in the first team.
“He put them in the team and stuck by them. So Stephen deserves a lot of credit and it could be a big thing for Aberdeen in terms of bringing in future transfer fees.
"Aberdeen can’t go out and buy million-pound players but they can produce their own and fair play to the likes of Neil Simpson and others who have worked at the academy to bring these guys through.
“Aberdeen always brings youth through. Everybody is talking about Connor and Calvin and rightly so.
“They’ve shown up really well for Aberdeen, in a team that is struggling, which is a hard thing to do.”
Jess came through in the golden era along with Scott Booth. He knows it is OK to have the ability but there has to be a pathway and a first-team manager who will give youngsters that opportunity.
“I was lucky enough Alex Smith came in and took a chance on a few younger players,” Jess said.
“I am thankful to Alex because he saw something in me at an early stage in my career. I had only played three or four games before he picked me for a cup final. That is a big thing for a manager to have faith in a young player and that is what Calvin and Connor had with Stephen.”
Ramsay saw a move to Italian side Bologna collapse in January and the speculation has remained. It has been new to Barron but Jess, talking from his own similar experiences when he eventually won a big-money move to Coventry, believes they will take everything in their stride.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it is difficult but it reallty depends on your personality.
“I just got on with things and ignored the speculation.
“I tried to ignore the hype at the time. It is flattering and it will have been for Calvin being linked with different Italian teams but I tried not to read the speculation.”
The Dons could decide to cash in on one of their prize assets this summer to finance Jim Goodwin’s rebuilding job.
There has been speculation over Scotland international Lewis Ferguson.
Jess knows last season was a nightmare for his former side. He played in struggling Dons set-ups but has also seen the other side and lifted trophies and knows that is what is expected when you play for a club like Aberdeen.
The ex-playmaker said: “Last term was up and down. Aberdeen need to be getting to cup finals and playing at the top end of the table.”
● Jess was part of a number of ex-stars who were playing in Northsound’s Cash for Kids charity football fundraisers. Donations can be made at planetradio.co.uk/northsound/cashforkids/
