"It does go in cycles and, of the third years, Glen Johnson has gone all the way to the first team," says Tony, "so in that respect the job has been 'done', which I don't say smugly.
"You tend to forget that he comes from that group because he has been out of it so long, playing in the reserves, on loan at Millwall, and now breaking into our first team.
"I would look upon that personally as a major success for the system, but having said that, the disappointment is always when you have to release players.
"I have known some of the boys since they have been at the club at the age of 10 years old so that aspect is always sad.
"But going back to Glen, who has actually played a couple of under-19 games this season when there were no reserve games, it is a bit like Jermain Defoe last season who didn't feature for the youth teams because he had gone on to better things.
"So the criteria is can we slip one in every year to make the first team squad - and fortunately we have been able to do that and one or two boys have gone on.
"Glen Johnson's success is the one we are chalking up."
Irish midfielder Daryl McMahon is also continuing his progress through the ranks, and Tony adds: "Daryl McMahon is playing regularly in the reserves and we are hopeful of him in his third year as a pro."