TALENT SPOTTER...Compton in his days as Torquay manager

ALBION'S new head of youth recruitment Paul Compton is the very man who handed Darren Moore his league debut.

And the Baggies centre-half is now returning the favour by helping his former boss spot the talent of the future for the Black Country club.

Moore was part of Compton's youth team at Torquay United and when he stepped up to become the Gulls' first-team manager in 1992, he gave 'Big Dave' his big break.

"Darren was already there when I became youth team coach at Torquay," he said.

"John James sold his green grocers' store in Old Hill and moved to the area and his Midlands contacts proved useful. He brought Darren to Torquay.

"In his second year as a YTS, you wouldn't have looked at offering Darren anything but after Christmas of that year it all came together.

"He would always work hard and do that little bit of extra training.

"He was a good leader and has gone on to do really well.

"I had to reluctantly sell him for £62,500 to Doncaster."

The relationship between the two is now blossoming at The Hawthorns and Compton added: "Darren is going to help me target inner-city areas because why should kids who have parents that can't drive be denied opportunities?

"Darren is very much a role model for kids in deprived inner-city areas to look up to and see what is achievable.

"He's offered to help me with his contacts and that sums him up.

"He's a terrific example of how young players should act."

Compton: "Darren would always work hard and do that little bit of extra training."

Compton's appointment is yet another example of Albion's determination to make a successful move towards Academy status.

And the former Bourmemouth, Aldershot and Torquay centre-half, who retired as a player in 1987, is hoping he can prove invaluable to what he believes is now an impressive Albion youth set-up spear-headed by Dan Ashworth.

"I was very impressed with Dan and his enthusiasm and the club's ambitions towards youth policy," he insisted.

"There is a family atmosphere here and it is credit to the club that it is so massive but still has a good working environment.

"It will be a tremendous boost to have Academy status.

"It will put us on a level playing field with other clubs in the area.

"It's important that when we sign a player, we recognise that we sign their family as well because they have to transport their son to training and matches.

"Also, when we've attracted players in the past, we've lost them because of average facilities. That is not a problem anymore.

"We have a fantastic training ground and the proposed indoor facility will be a big attraction. It's up to us to keep them now.

"We've got good coaches and have an opportunity to produce good players."

Compton, who also served as head of youth football at Swansea, youth recruitment officer at Cardiff and youth team coach at Preston, has already put in place two recruitment officers to help him from Under-sixes to Under-12 level.

And he is determined to expand the Baggies' catchment area and scouting network.

"There is a big drive from Under-Sevens to Under-12s and I have a two-year plan," he said.

"We've identified the Dudley area as one we will be targeting more.

"Kevin Duff will be in charge of recruiting Under-eights to Under-12s and Colin Grigg will be in charge of Under-sixes to Under-eights.

"I'm also in discussions about the possibility of having satellite centres in Halesowen and Kidderminster.

"We're getting the infrastructure in place and what we need now is scouts, ideally retired gentlemen who know local football in their area.

"They would have to go through a police check to comply with child protection laws and also through scouts' conduct training before they can represent Albion."

Anyone interested in scouting from Under-sixes to Under-18s level for Albion should call Paul on 08700 66 2860.

Compton: "Darren is very much a role model for kids in deprived inner-city areas to look up to and see what is achievable."