LUKE WILLIAMS FACTFILE

Born: London, 1980 (Age 35) A schoolboy at Norwich before joining Bristol Rovers as an apprentice, Williams left the Gas without making an appearance and subsequently played Non-League football for Ashford Town. Seriously injured at the age of 20, Williams spent three out before retiring to years concentrate on coaching – first with a role in West Ham’s Kickz scheme, then as an FA Skills coach, where he worked on a programme designed to fight childhood obesity. In 2008, he joined Leyton Orient’s youth team under Dean Smith while simultaneously managing the academy at Non-League Witham Town. Appointed to lead Brighton’s newly-formed development squad in 2009, he saw a string of youngsters graduate to the first-team, among them Rohan Ince and Eng- land Under-21 star Jake Forster-Caskey. He then joined Swindon in 2013 and was Mark Cooper’s assistant as the Robins reached the 2015 play-off final, ultimately losing to Preston. He was retained when Cooper was replaced by Martin Ling, and Ling’s resignation in December led to Williams being asked to manage the club the until the end of the season.