DARREN MAKES SWIFT RETURN AT BORO
DISMISSED as manager two weeks ago, Stevenage have confirmed Darren Sarll is already back on the club’s payroll.
But there’s no need for new Tunisian boss Dino Maamria, 46, to look nervously over his shoulder, with Sarll charged with overseeing all aspects of youth development and expanding Boro’s youth operation both domestically and overseas.
Sarll had worked with the club’s youth side and then as a first-team coach before being appointed manager in February 2016.
The 35-year-old took charge of 114 games, narrowly missing out on the play-offs last term, while this season they have slipped to the relative sanctuary of mid-table with just three league wins in 2018.
Chairman Phil Wallace has revealed the reasoning behind Sarll’s job swap.
He said: “We have some exciting plans to continue to recruit and develop young elite players, as well as expanding our college schemes by adding other clubs as strategic partners.
“We also want to introduce an international scheme that recruits and develops young football talent from outside the UK.
“Darren now has two years of EFL first-team managerial experience to add to his previous knowledge of youth development and is that much clearer on what makes a top professional player.
“I want succession plans in place and I want to encourage continuity, which means keeping talented people within the club wherever we can.
“With Alex Tunbridge coming in next season as CEO, Darren heading up our future youth development and Leon Hunter continuing to run our overall player recruitment at every level, we have a group of top quality people in their 30s essentially running the club on a daily basis, which is crucial if I ever decide to hang up my boots.”