NEW reserve team manager Stewart Henderson last night hailed Saints' exciting crop of youth talent.

As the coach of last year's under-19 national champions, Henderson's appointment is a clear sign that reserve team matches will again largely be used to develop Saints' hugely-promising youngsters.

He takes charge of his first match tonight at Charlton Reserves and will pick a predominantly young team, with Leon Best, who was on the bench against Charlton on Monday night, starting in attack on his Valley return.

Henderson rates the attitude of the young players as their biggest strength, with the likes of Best, Dexter Blackstock and Martin Cranie already pushing for first team football.

"It is the best crop we have had for a number of years," he said.

"A lot of hard work has gone in by a lot of people in the recruitment and development of these players.

"We try to do it right and we work as hard as possible. The boys are very, very hard working. There are no big egos and there is a great work ethic."

Henderson has been given the title of under-21 and reserve team coach, meaning that the ever-popular Dennis Rofe will work with the first-team. Head coach Steve Wigley is also now close to appointing an assistant.

Henderson has spent over 40 years in football, having started his playing career in 1962 with Chelsea.

He spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge before moving on to Brighton where he settled down as a regular for eight years.

His next move was to Reading in 1973 where he spent 18 years in a variety of different roles, before joining Saints as Youth Development Officer in 1991 under Ian Branfoot.

The youth structure is now looking extremely strong and Henderson believes there are several teenagers knocking on the first-team door. He said: "It helps that Steve Wigley knows them all. He knows what they are capable of and I'm very hopeful that some of them will come through.

"The boys have all helped each other. They were excellent last season, they lost just one game and finished as national champions.

"The longer the season went they just got better and better. They have come through together and that has helped.

"We won't stand in the way of anybody's development and whatever age they are, if they have got the talent then they can push right through to the first team.

"In that respect there could be some exciting times ahead."

Henderson admitted he was delighted to be asked to take charge of the reserves and is looking forward to the challenge of helping players to bridge the gap from the academy to the first team.

He added: "The way Steve Wigley put it to me, as a link between the players at the top end of the academy and the first team, made it sound like a very exciting role.

"I do see myself as a developer and the buzz you get in this job is when you see young players coming through and making it into the first team. They see the reserves as being a very young side this year and so my role might not be too dissimilar to my previous one."