NEIL BATH has been described as the "stand-out practitioner in youth development" and "the fabric of Chelsea" after his Academy topped TGG's productivity rankings.

MANCHESTER UNITED have appointed Sheffield United’s Tommy Lee as their new Lead Academy Goalkeeper Coach. The 36-year-old replaces Alan Fettis, the long-serving Head of Academy Goalkeeping who moved to Middlesbrough in the summer.

FORMER Scotland international Charlie Adam has been appointed Loans Manager and Professional Development Phase Coach at Burnley.

CHELSEA have topped Training Ground Guru’s Academy Productivity Rankings for the first time. The Blues Academy was the most productive in the country, with Manchester United second and Arsenal third.

BRISTOL ROVERS manager Joey Barton said that Crystal Palace’s Under-21s represent “what the problem is in the modern game” after his side’s 2-0 win over them in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

FORMER Rangers manager Graeme Murty has been appointed Under-21s boss at Championship side Sunderland.

PRESTON NORTH END Chairman Craig Hemmings says the club aspire to go Category Two and are in discussions about building an all-weather indoor facility that will help them do so.

COACHES from the four home nations as well as from Belgium, Holland, Germany, Portugal and the United States came together at TGG’s Youth Development Conference for a day of learning and sharing ideas.

FORMER Burnley Academy Manager Jon Pepper has joined Lincoln City. Pepper worked for the Clarets for five years, from 2016 to 2021, and oversaw their rise from Category Three to Category One status.

GAVIN CHESTERFIELD is leaving Barry Town after 15 years to become the new Academy Manager at Cardiff City.

PAUL McGUINNESS has left his role as Leicester City’s Head of Player Development to help care for his father Wilf, who has dementia.

SOUTHAMPTON have hired Pete Haynes from Cheltenham Town in a revamp of their coaching set-up at Under-18 level. The 28-year-old, who was Senior Professional Development Phase Coach at Cheltenham, has been appointed U18s Individual Coach by the Premier League side.