Former City hard man lands job as Academy chief
FORMER Coventry City hard man defender Liam Daish has returned to the Midlands as Birmingham City’s new academy chief, 26 years after leaving Blues as a player.
The 54-year-old replaces another ex-sky Blues centre-back, Paul Williams, who departed as Academy Director in the summer, and comes back with the official title of Academy Manager, working under senior team manager and former Coventry team-mate John Eustace.
Daish first joined Blues when Barry Fry acquired him from Cambridge United for £50,000 in January 1994.
He would go on to make 98 appearances and score six times before leaving for Highfield Road two years later for £1.5million.
The former Republic of Ireland centre half is regarded as one of the hardest players ever to play for the both clubs in the modern era and while he was unable to prevent the Blues being relegated a few months after his arrival, he led the side back into the First Division at the first opportunity.
Daish captained Blues to the Division Two title in 1995 and also to the Auto Windscreens Shields Trophy, won by a Paul Tait golden goal against Carlisle United.
The following season he was involved in some memorable matches in the Anglo-italian Cup.
Daish went on to play for the Sky Blues but injury limited him to just 31 top flight appearances and two goals before seeing out his playing days at non-league Havant & Waterlooville before starting a career in management, which included a spell at Nuneaton Town.
In 2017 Daish took over Portsmouth’s Under-18s and spent five years at Fratton Park before leaving as the lead professional development phase coach in June.
He will take over the footballing side of Blues academy which has a proven track record of getting players into the first team.