WORCESTER City are preparing to launch an under 21 team in a bid to boost the senior side next season.

More than 40 players have signed up for trials to earn a place in the new side who are expected to act as a “reserve team”.

City’s under 21s are likely to play in either the Midland League Under 21 South or Reserve Division.

Luca Gabriel, who is the club’s head of youth development, said he would oversee the team before a manager was appointed.

“The under 21s will basically be the reserve team for the first team,” Gabriel said.

“Lee (Hughes) said he wanted three of the first team players to play in the under 21s every week.

“If he has got a squad of 20 players he doesn’t see why three of the senior player can’t play in the under 21s to get minutes so if they are called upon they are not going to be rusty.”

City could come up against Heart of Worcestershire College’s football academy run by former Worcester striker Mark Owen if they opt to go into the under 21 league.

They could also meet teams including Bromsgrove Sporting, Kettering and AFC Rushden and Diamonds who all featured in the division last season.

“The team have been accepted into Midland League’s under 21s division and reserve league,” Gabriel continued.

“The club, Lee and John (Snape) will decide where they will play, but I think it is better for them to play in the under 21s.

“The good thing about that as well is that if they finish an under 21s game in the morning they can all jump in their cars and go and support the first team.”

The Blue and Whites’ trials for the under 21s take place on Sunday, June 11 at the University of Worcester.

Gabriel said he was “confident” of putting together a strong side and bringing in a coach with “a lot of experience” to manage them.

“We have had massive interest in the trials with players from really far away, but we have got to be realistic,” he said.

“We want local boys who are good enough and if they are from within 10 miles and aren’t good enough we will look at a 15-mile or a 20-mile radius.

“We will go out slowly looking for what we need.

“We don’t want 20 and 21 year olds either. If you are a 16-year-old who can play under 21s football that means you have got a future to be a paid footballer and you are an asset to the club.

“But I think six or seven of our current under 16s will go straight into the under 21s as they were training with the first team and did not look out of place.”

He added: “The team will be overlooked by myself at the minute, but I have interviewed three last week (to be the under 21s manager).

“They are all good with a lot of experience so that is not something that worries me.”