Albion role too good to refuse – new boss
WEST Brom have completed the freshening up of their academy by appointing Richard Stevens as the club’s new manager.
Stevens is to leave the same role he has held at Coventry City for the last six years and will replace the departed Mark Harrison, who left for Villa in the summer.
The appointment of Stevens isn’t the first the club have made, though; former players Michael Appleton and Boaz Myhill have already taken up roles in the Under-23s’ set-up, while former Tottenham man David Kerslake is the academy’s new head of coaching.
Peter Gilbert, meanwhile, has replaced Mike Scott as Under-18s’ manager, having previously been the latter’s assistant prior to his exit for Derby County.
Stevens will join Albion next month. During his 12 years with the Sky Blues he has overseen the development of Premier League stars James Maddison and Callum Wilson, as well as a number of youngsters who have broken into the first team under Mark Robins.
“Richard’s arrival completes the recruitment we have undertaken at academy level,” said Albion’s sporting director Luke Dowling.
“I’m delighted with the appointments we have made and believe we have added some tremendous experience as well as coaching expertise.
“Our academy deserves its enviable reputation but I know Richard and the guys around him will all want to do even better in the years ahead. It remains a vital area of the club’s operations.
“The journey from young player of potential to first-team regular remains the key feature of development and we now have a core of staff in key positions who understand that process.”
Stevens admits it is a wrench to leave a job he has enjoyed, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity of working at a higher level.
“The step to Category 1 in the academy system is a challenge I could not turn down for my own personal development and career progression,” he said.
“Although I will be around for a period of time yet, I would like to thank the owners for full support throughout the journey and also all of the staff, players and parents who have played a part in providing experiences for all levels of development.”