The bold experiment to have a presence Down Under unfortunately did not yield the talent that was hoped for, and Tony explains:
"It didn't work out but to be fair the financial outlay was far in excess of anything that we reaped from it, so it was as much an economic decision as much as it was a scouting area decision, if you like.
"Australia is never going to be a country rife with players; you were just hoping that having a presence there would attract the odd one or two that did progress and become good enough.
"But it wasn't to be at that point, though we still have good contacts there and I am sure if a good young lad emerges we will get wind of it and maybe we can attract him from a distance."
One such Antipodean talent is Trent McLenehan, and Tony says:
"Trent is starting with us on a scholarship for a third year; he had an excellent end to the season after taking a while to settle, coming as he did from Australia.
"He found it hard to adapt to English football in the first six months he was here but he has put in some notable performances in with the reserve team towards the end so we hope he can push on and make further progression in his third year."