Bulletin Board
Who’s in, who’s out and what’s available
July 1, 2026
Spurs appoint Grocott as key figure in recruitment team
Tottenham Hotspur have named Stockport County's Head of Academy Recruitment Ryan Grocott as the North West Lead in their recruitment department.
Grocott had been at Stockport since January 2023 after eight-and-a-half years at Stoke City, where he was Youth Development Phase Coach and then Senior Academy Scout.
After avoiding relegation from the Premier League in May, Spurs Chairman Peter Charrington wrote an open letter to fans in which he said the club would commit to a variety of pledges, including increasing investment in their Academy “to ensure that the pathway from youth football to the first team is one of the strongest in the country”.
Players to successfully come through Spurs’ Academy to the first team include England captain Harry Kane and more recently Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear.
July 1, 2026
Behrami one of three staff leaving Watford
Valon Behrami, Watford's Assistant to the Sporting Director, and First Team Coaches Charlie Daniels and Alberto Garrido have all left the club.
Behrami returned to Vicarage Road last summer, having played for them between 2015 and 2017. He provided support to Gian Luca Nani and said: “Being back at Watford was a great experience. I worked with some amazing, talented and extremely hard-working people at a very special football club that will always have a place in my heart.
“I was very fortunate to have a career that took me to all corners of Europe and spent a lot of time away from home. I have a wife and two children and I owe them my time now – and I know a family club like Watford will understand this difficult decision.”
Daniels was at Watford for five years – first in the Academy where he was Lead Coach of both the Under-18s and Under-21s and then as First Team Coach. He took charge of two Championship games last season after Javi Gracia left the club.
Garrido spent the past two seasons at the club, having previously been Assistant Head Coach at Real Madrid Castilla.
Meanwhile, First Team Coach Dan Gosling is staying on with the Hornets as part of new Head Coach Alessio Dionisi’s backroom team.
July 1, 2026
Leicester ring the changes in Martin’s backroom staff
Leicester City have shuffled their backroom staff ahead of their first season in the third tier since 2009, with two incomings and two departures.
Former Barnsley Head Coach Conor Hourihane has been appointed as Russell Martin’s Assistant Manager, while Rhys Owen, who worked with Martin at Norwich, Swansea, Southampton and Rangers, arrives as First Team Fitness Coach.
On X, Hourihane said he was “delighted to be given the opportunity” and was “excited for the season ahead”.
Martin’s Assistant at Swansea, Southampton and Rangers was Matt Gill, but he is now part of the coaching team at West Brom.
First Team Coach Adam Sadler, who returned to Leicester on a short-term contract last season after an earlier nine-year spell at the club, and Set-Piece Coach Andy Hughes are both leaving the club.
The Foxes, who won the Premier League 10 years ago, have suffered back-to-back relegations and kick off their League One campaign at Notts County on 15 August.
TGG Members: Leicester City staff profiles
June 29, 2026
U21s boss Murty leaves Sunderland
Graeme Murty has left his role as Sunderland's Under-21s boss as the club undertake an Academy revamp ahead of the new season.
Murty was Head of Sunderland’s Professional Development Phase (17s to 21s) and joined the Black Cats from Rangers in October 2022. He spent close to three years overseeing the U21s.
Head of Coaching Stuart English said: “I’d like to personally thank Graeme for his service to Sunderland AFC and wish him all the best for the future.”
Murty added: “It has been an absolute privilege to work with so many talented players, coaches and dedicated support staff during my time in the Academy. I’m so proud of everything we have collectively achieved over the last four years, and as importantly, the superb progress we have made as an Academy team.
“Watching Tommy Watson clinch the Club’s return to the Premier League was a moment every Academy staff member will cherish. I wish the Club continued and sustained success in the future, building on an amazing return to the Premier League.”
Murty, 51, is a former Scotland international who took Academy roles at Southampton and Norwich before joining Rangers in 2016 to become Lead Development Squad Coach.
He was also twice placed in caretaker charge of the first team at Ibrox before becoming full-time manager for six months December 2017.
Murty’s exit comes shortly after John Hewitson was promoted to Head of Academy after seven years with Sunderland, succeeding Robin Nicholls, who left at the end of the season to become Academy Director at New York City FC.
Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi has underlined the Academy’s importance to the club, describing it as “a fundamental part of Sunderland AFC’s identity and our future” and framing Hewitson’s promotion as an expression of the club’s identity.
June 24, 2026
Speakman named Director of Football at FC Copenhagen
Former Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman has been appointed as the new Director of Football at FC Copenhagen.
The 47-year-old, who left Sunderland in February, will take up the post on July 1st and have overall responsibility for the entire football operation. He succeeds Sune Smith-Nielsen, who was sacked in February, and inherits a club in transition.
Copenhagen finished seventh in the 12-team Superliga last season — one of their worst seasons in recent memory – entering the relegation phase for the first time, before recovering to claim a Conference League place by beating Brøndby on the final day.
At Sunderland, Speakman oversaw the data-integrated recruitment structure that carried the club from League One to the Premier League in little over four seasons. He had previously spent more than a decade at Birmingham City, joining as an Academy coach in 2006 and rising to Head of Academy in 2017.
Speakman has set out plans for “an even more data-driven approach” at Copenhagen, saying it must “strengthen our decision-making basis, make it possible to track development more closely and identify opportunities before they arise.”
He has framed the job as a structural rebuild rather than a quick fix, talking about aligning “our processes and ambitions, our identity and strategy” so the club can return to the top of Danish football.
Chairman Henrik Møgelmose said: “We have run a very thorough recruitment process, and Kristjaan made a strong impression throughout. He is exactly the profile we were looking for.”
CEO Jacob Lauesen added that Speakman’s strategic insight had “already proved defining for the plan we are about to roll out,” describing him as “a man who knows what he wants and how to do it.”
June 23, 2026
Butler promoted to U21s Head Coach by Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers have promoted Paul Butler to Under-21s Head Coach amid a summer of backroom changes.
The appointment fills the vacancy left by Gregory Vignal, who departed at the end of last season.
Butler, the former Leeds United and Derby County Assistant, steps up after overseeing the U18s’ run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals lasts season. He arrived at the Category One club as U21s Assistant in November 2023.
June 17, 2026
Rowett and Davidson leave Leicester after Martin appointment
Gary Rowett and Callum Davidson are leaving Leicester City following the appointment of Russell Martin as the club's new Head Coach.
Rowett was put in charge for the rest of the season in February, with Davidson as his assistant, but they were unable to prevent the club’s second successive relegation as they dropped into League One.
He has previously managed Burton, Birmingham (two spells), Derby, Stoke, Millwall and Oxford. Davidson, who won 19 caps for Scotland, has been in charge of St Johnstone and Queen’s Park.
Leicester’s Chief Football Officer Jon Rudkin said: “They stepped forward at an important and challenging time for us and worked extremely hard to support the players, staff and wider football club with integrity and dedication.”
Martin has not yet named his backroom staff.
TGG Members: Leicester City staff profiles
June 17, 2026
Morville confirmed as new Fleetwood Academy Manager
Fleetwood Town have appointed Danny Morville as their new Academy Manager.
Morville, who had been in the role on an interim basis, replaces Jack Higgins, who left the League Two club after nearly six years to become the new Academy Director at Stoke City in April. Higgins had joined Fleetwood from Burnley, where he was Head of Education for three years.
Morville also made the move from Burnley to Fleetwood, where he is now in his sixth year. He arrived as Academy Secretary before moving on to become Head of Academy Operations and then Interim Academy Manager.
Speaking about the club’s latest internal appointment, owner Jamie Pilley said: “Danny was the outstanding candidate throughout the recruitment process. He has already played a significant role in the success and growth of our Academy and has consistently demonstrated the leadership, professionalism and commitment that we believe are essential to driving the next phase of its development.
“As one of only two League Two clubs to hold Category Two Academy status (Colchester being the other), we have made a major commitment to youth development over many years, supported by significant investment from our family ownership.”
Morville follows other Academy staff in moving into senior positions at the club, including Matt Lawlor, Nathan Pond and Mark Yeates, who are now in first-team roles.
“Our aim will always be to produce Fleetwood Town players,” he said. “We want to develop Premier League players, we want to develop Football League players and we want to develop successful people.”
Fleetwood, who have a Category Two Academy, came 58th in the 2024/25 TGG Academy Productivity Rankings.
June 12, 2026
Trio leave Liverpool after Slot sacking
Liverpool have confirmed the departures of Assistants Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Lead Physical Performance Coach Ruben Peeters following the sacking of Head Coach Arne Slot last month.
Hulshoff and Peeters both arrived at Anfield as part of Slot’s staff in the summer of 2024, while Van Bronckhorst, the former Feyenoord and Rangers manager, joined a year later.
Peeters confirmed his exit on Linked.
“After two unforgettable seasons at Liverpool FC, it is time to say goodbye,” the 34-year-old wrote.
“Winning the Premier League together will always be a special memory and the ultimate highlight of this incredible journey. But, above all, I’m grateful for two years of going to work every day with so much enthusiasm, surrounded by amazing colleagues and great people.”
Individual Development Lead Luiz Fernando Iubel, who joined from Atlético Mineiro in August 2025, Head of Goalkeeping Xavi Valero, who returned to Anfield last summer 15 years after working there under Rafael Benítez, and Goalkeeper Development and Pathway Lead Colin Stewart are all staying.
Andoni Iraola has been appointed as Slot’s successor on a two-year deal.
June 10, 2026
Carter appointed to new Birmingham City Academy role
Darren Carter, who scored the penalty that sent Birmingham City into the Premier League in 2002, has been appointed the club's Academy Transition, Loan and Player Development Manager.
Carter, who came through the Blues Academy himself before going on to make his name in the first team, will lead the club’s loan and transition strategy, overseeing player development.
He will be responsible for identifying and securing loan moves, monitoring how players are progressing and ensuring each individual gets the support needed to fulfil their potential.
The role also covers players leaving the Academy programme, with Carter helping them find opportunities within football, education or wider career pathways.
A boyhood Blues fan, Carter made his name as an 18-year-old when he scored the winning penalty in the 2002 play-off final shootout that sent Birmingham into the Premier League. The central midfielder went on to play for West Brom, Preston, Cheltenham, Northampton, Forest Green and Solihull Moors, before moving into coaching – running Solihull’s Academy and later managing Birmingham City Women.
“I am incredibly proud to take on this role at the club,” Carter said. “Developing young players and helping them navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with their journey in football is something I am deeply passionate about. This is a club which everyone knows is close to my heart.
“We have always had a strong commitment to youth development, and I am excited to work alongside the Academy staff to ensure our players receive the best possible support.”
May 29, 2026
Luton land Lancefield as Head of Recruitment
Luton Town have appointed William Lancefield as their new Head of Recruitment, with the former Hearts recruitment chief officially taking up his new role on June 19th.
Lancefield has previously worked in scouting and analyst roles at Southampton, Norwich City, Tottenham and Brighton. At Hearts, he played a key role in identifying transfer targets and integrating Jamestown Analytics into the club’s recruitment structure.
His appointment follows a comprehensive end-of-season review of Luton’s recruitment and scouting operations. CEO Gary Sweet described the appointment as “a significant coup,” adding that Lancefield’s experience and clear understanding of the club’s needs made him the outstanding candidate for the role.
Yousuf Sajjad continues as Player Recruitment Manager, Marc Tracy as Chief Scout, and Mick Harford as Senior Scout alongside his ambassadorial role at the club.
The changes also see two long-serving members of the department depart. Jay Socik leaves after more than five years as Head of Recruitment Analysis, having joined full-time in 2021 and played a key role in two Championship play-off campaigns, promotion to the Premier League and this season’s Vertu Trophy win. Senior Scout Alexander Wilkinson also moves on after four years at the club.
Socik, who said his time at Luton had been “an incredible chapter,” will be presenting at TGG’s Scouting & Recruitment Webinar on June 9th — a full-day online conference featuring seven presentations from across the industry.
May 19, 2026
Taylor leaves Bolton B to become Barrow Assistant
Andy Taylor has left his position as Bolton Wanderers B Team Head Coach to become Assistant to Adam Murray at Barrow.
The duo previously worked together at AFC Fylde, winning promotion to the National League in 2023. The former defender, who enjoyed a 15-year playing career that brought more than 350 senior appearances, joined Bolton from Fylde in January 2024,
Bolton relaunched their reserve side in 2021/22 and rebranded it as the B Team for 2022/23 to bridge the gap between Under-18s and senior football while operating at Category Three Academy status.
Taylor guided the side to Lancashire Senior Cup success in 2024/25 and strengthened the Academy-to-first-team pathway.
Bolton will maintain the B Team’s Central League programme at the Eddie Davies Academy while assessing an application for Category Two status that would see the side move into the Professional Development League.
May 15, 2026
Norwich City promote Cornes to Performance Scientist
Norwich City have appointed Michael Cornes as their new First Team Performance Scientist following the completion of his applied PhD studentship.
The three-year doctorate programme was run in partnership with the University of Birmingham, where Cornes focused on athlete behaviour and the club’s state-of-the-art recovery hub.
His promotion marks the first official appointment within the Canaries’ newly-integrated performance department. Under the supervision of the University’s Liam Anderson and club staff, Cornes’ academic insights will now translate directly into daily first-team training protocols.
Writing on LinkedIn, Cornes said: “I’m excited to continue applying elements of this research within the role and helping build on the work already taking place at the club.”
May 12, 2026
Head of Goalkeeping Margetson to leave Swansea
Swansea City Head of Goalkeeping Martyn Margetson is leaving the Championship club.
Margetson has spent five years with the Swans over two spells – from 2019 to 2021 and then from 2023 until the end of this season.
Goalkeepers he has coached include Freddie Woodman, who made his Liverpool debut last month, Carl Rushworth, who was ever-present this season for Coventry as they won the Championship, and current Swansea custodian Lawrence Vigouroux, who has recently become first choice for the Chile national side.
Margetson is also Goalkeeping Coach for Wales under Craig Bellamy and has worked at more than 1,000 senior games at club and international level.
“I feel now is the right time for me to step down from my role at the club. This is a decision made entirely off my own back and one that I feel is right for both myself and my family,” he said on Instagram. “To have played a part in the development and progression of so many goalkeepers over these five years has meant a great deal to me.”
Margetson won one cap for Wales during his playing career for Manchester City, Southend United, Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City.
May 12, 2026
Swindon Assistant Manager Bignot leaves club
Assistant Manager Marcus Bignot has left Swindon Town by mutual agreement.
Bignot joined the Robins in June 2024 under former Head Coach Mark Kennedy and stayed on to work with Ian Holloway after Kennedy’s departure six months later.
He had previously worked at Queens Park Rangers with Holloway, who said: “Marcus has been a real positive influence since the moment I walked through the door. His energy, professionalism and commitment to the players and staff have been first-class and he leaves with nothing but our respect and gratitude. Marcus goes with our full blessing and I have no doubt he will be a huge asset wherever he goes next.”
Bignot’s departure is part of a wider restructuring of Holloway’s backroom team ahead of next season, after Swindon missed out on this campaign’s League Two play-offs by three points.
May 7, 2026
Goalkeeping coach Ward to leave promoted Cardiff
Goalkeeping coach Gavin Ward will leave Cardiff City this summer after two years at the club.
Ward, who played for the Bluebirds between 1989 and 1993, previously coached at Shrewsbury Town, Nottingham Forest, Burton Albion and Queens Park Rangers before returning to Cardiff under former boss Omer Riza in September 2024.
However, he remained part of current Head Coach Brian Barry-Murphy’s backroom staff this season as Cardiff won immediate promotion back to the Championship.
May 3, 2026
Bolton Head of Youth Recruitment Johnson makes Wrexham move
Bolton Wanderers Head of Youth Recruitment Paul Johnson has left the club to take up the same role at Wrexham AFC.
Johnson, who joined Bolton in December 2022, spent more than three years at the Toughsheet Community Stadium following previous talent ID roles at Leeds United, Everton, and Chelsea.
At Wrexham, he replaces Chris Burn as part of a major overhaul under new Academy Manager Gus Williams, who arrived from the FAW in late 2025.
The appointment signals Wrexham’s aggressive drive toward Category Two status, supported by over £2m in infrastructure investment at their Darland training site.
Meanwhile, Bolton continue their own pursuit of Category Two status as they look to build on a record intake of professional graduates.
April 22, 2026
Barker joins Arsenal Academy recruitment team from QPR
Arsenal have added Dean Barker to the recruitment team at their Academy.
Barker has spent the past three years as the Head of Emerging Talent at QPR.
Looking back on his time in west London, he posted on X: “Huge thanks to Lee McCarthy for bringing me to the club and all the scouts for their hard work and commitment.
“PL Cup winners, youngest-ever first team squad, debuts and internationals are memories I’ll always cherish.”
Barker has also been a PE teacher for more than 20 years, working at St John’s School in Enfield, where Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri was one of his pupils.
April 18, 2026
Martin to leave Bristol Rovers after a year
Director of Football Ricky Martin is leaving Bristol Rovers after a year.
The former Stoke City Technical Director was appointed at the end of March 2025, although he did not officially begin his role until the summer (having initially been given a handover by predecessor George Friend) by which time the club had been relegated to League Two.
Martin’s time with the club was tumultuous. He appointed Darrell Clarke as Head Coach and brought in 14 players in his first transfer window (as well as nine in January 2026) but they were in the relegation zone by mid-December, having suffered 10 straight league defeats.
Martin then brought in Steve Evans and the veteran manager stabilised the club, securing safety. Rovers are now 15th in League Two.
Rovers, who have no immediate plans to appoint a replacement for Martin, said: “We would like to thank Ricky for all of his work throughout his time at the club and he will always be welcomed back at The Memorial Stadium.”
April 15, 2026
Sillett takes up National Youth Scouting Manager role at Fulham
Neil Sillett is the new National Youth Scouting Manager at Fulham.
Sillett is leading a team of national and international scouts looking for elite level targets to join the club’s Academy, working alongside their recruitment team.
He is combining the full-time role with his freelance work as Course Lead for the Football Association in co-ordinating and delivering the National FA Scouting Certificate at Level 2 and supporting tutors on Talent ID Level 3.
Sillett previously spent five years as an Elite Performance Scout for the Scottish Football Association and two years as Technical Director for Puerto Rico FC in the North American Soccer League.