Training Ground Guru | Southampton unveil complete revamp of ...

Written by Simon Austin — February 7, 2024

SOUTHAMPTON have undertaken a huge restructure and restaffing of their Category One Academy aimed at building a “world-leading development programme for players and staff.”

Following relegation from the Premier League last season, the club embarked on a major Academy rebuild that is now beginning to take shape. This has been overseen by new Academy Director Andy Goldie, who arrived at the club last summer from Swansea City to replace the long-serving Matt Hale.

Southampton say it is the responsibility of all staff to develop players.

The Technical Development department, which was headed by Iain Brunnschweiler and had functions including coaching, coach development, individual development coaches and specialist coaches, has also gone, with the club returning to the traditional Head of Coaching model. Ricky King arrived from Swansea City last summer to take up that role.

There are some interesting new job titles and sections in the revamped Academy. One is a Head of Player Strategy role, which will focus on “strategic progression and transition”, mainly for Professional Development Phase players.

This role has gone to former Saints centre-back Olly Lancashire, who returned to the club in the summer of 2021 as a B Team coach and over-aged player. Lancashire will head up a new Player Pathway department, with support from Loans Manager Phil Wright and Transition Coach Jeremy Newton, who has moved up from the U16s.

They will look at securing loans and first-team exposure for players, as well as “ensuring that interdisciplinary Individual Development Plan objectives are delivered and met.” A new Individual Analyst and Individual Data Scientist are also set to be appointed to the Player Pathway department.

In addition, there will be Player Development Leads, who will oversee the process of individual development, incorporating the wider multi-disciplinary staff in the process. These Leads are:

Sam Jones (U9-U10s): Previously U9s Head Coach.Craig Angus (U11-U12s): Joined in December from Swansea City, where he was Lead Foundation Phase Coach.Tom Bird (U13-U14s): Joined in January from Chelsea, where he had worked for 12 years and was U13/14s coach.Oli Higginson (U15-U16s): Previously U12s Head Coach.

They will work alongside the age group coaches:

Alexandros Evangelakakis (U11s): Joined from Oxford United, where he was Foundation Phase Lead, in January 2024.Callum Crockard (U13): Promoted from U12s Assistant.Andy Marks and Tony Salentino (U15s): Moved from U14s and U13s respectively.Sam McQueen (U16s Assistant): Former Southampton player returned to the club at end of 2023.

Goldie told TGG: “The staffing restructure will enable us to start building a world-leading development programme for players and staff over the coming years. There were three main objectives: to place current staff in roles where they can maximise their impact on player development whilst retaining the heritage of the Academy; to diversify our current skillset by adding relatable and/ or life experience; and to provide real clarity on everyone’s role in delivering individual development on and off the pitch together.

“The new Player Pathway department is central to that, having been created to drive the long-term development and retention of our most exciting talent, supporting the interdisciplinary teams, and of course players, in achieving the development objectives agreed upon.”

Natasha Patel, who has been with the club since December 2022 after a three-year spell as Head of Performance Analysis with New York Red Bulls, remains and oversees Performance (Sport Science, Medical, Psychology and Analysis), as well as Operations and Education.

Other recent arrivals in the Academy are:

Kirsty Whitton (Head of Academy Operations): Promoted from Assistant Club Secretary. Conner Agar (Pre-Academy Co-ordinator): Arrived in January from Wolves, where he was London Scouting Co-ordinator.Matt Paterson (Player Care Officer, U15 to U21s): Former Southampton youth player who retuned to the club in January.Hannah Lingham (Education and Lifelong Learning Manager): Formerly Principal Teacher.

Sport Republic bought an 80% stake in the club in January 2022. Jason Wilcox replaced Crocker as Director of Football last summer.