Which is currently correct and the elite programme has been successful for the youngsters good enough for to play for England. But it has been used to offset the academy. There are still plenty of professional clubs that have an academy or similar and producing quality youngsters good enough to sell on or progress to play at our levels. I would add that non league clubs and Welsh senior clubs, still have a youth programme.
Since the closure of our academy, we have to bring in youngsters to fill our u18s, from other clubs who have been released. Of course that is the reason why they are not good enough.
At one stage when John Achterberg started coaching for ten years or more, a goalkeeper made pro. It wasn't until about three seasons ago we didn't have a keeper makes pro, that we only had one keeper at youth level. This summer Ben Jones made pro. But I think he may be the last for a while. Also, this current crop of first year pros, who are getting paid a pittance, have been given a squad number to satisfy the EFL, for satisfying the need for league rules to be followed.