Villa ‘chain reaction’ impacts on Albion
ALBION sporting director Luke Dowling has spoken of the Villa ‘chain reaction’, which has caused so much upheaval at The Hawthorns this summer.
As well as two high-profile departures from the playing staff, in Morgan Rogers and Louie Barry, Baggies’ bosses have had to contend with a number of coaches leaving the academy.
Former manager Mark Harrison left the club for Villa earlier this summer, meaning a number of changes were required.
He was eventually replaced by Richard Stevens, who will join the club from Coventry City in the coming weeks.
The appointment of Stevens isn’t the first the club have made, though; Boaz Myhill has 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 has replaced Mike
Scott as Under-18s’ manager, having previously been the latter’s assistant prior to his exit for Derby County.
Dowling outlined how the changes had affected the culture of the academy.
“Any departures from the academy had been forced upon the club,’’ he said. “Mark Harrison, the former manager, left for Aston Villa causing a chain reaction by taking two staff members with him.
“Under-23s coach Jamie Smith had understandably opted to move to Doncaster for a first-team level appointment while Under-18s’ coach Mike Scott took a promotion at Derby. Meanwhile, Jimmy Shan had chosen to strike out on his own following his first-team experience at the end of last season.’’
Dowling added: “I am happy with all the staff recruited in their place who were of a high quality, possessed great Football League experience and had a good knowledge of the club.
“Cultural changes were designed to improve the first-team experience at the training ground and drive aspiration within the academy players.
“Already the changes have seen positive effects and been given widespread support from all staff, including senior academy personnel.”
Dowling revealed he is pleased with West Brom’s summer recruitment drive – but insists the Baggies are far from the finished article.
Albion sold Craig Dawson, Jay Rodriguez and Salomon Rondon, while they also moved on a number of fringe players as they sought to slash the average age of the senior squad.
The club also lost a number of key players who had arrived on loan, including Harvey Barnes, Dwight Gayle and Mason Holgate – among others.
Albion made a number of acquisitions, who have already had a positive impact in the first team under Slaven Bilic.
“Nine new signings have enabled us to re-engineer the squad’s average age and add some much-needed youth and energy to our ranks,’’ said
Dowling.
“It is by no means a process which is complete but we have made some astute signings which have already established significant promise.’’