NEWCASTLE UNITED have hired Claire Burrows from Leicester City as their Academy recruitment revamp takes shape. Technical Director Dan Ashworth has made improving the club’s Academy productivity a key focus of his first year with the Magpies.

SAM STANTON is being promoted to replace Tom Stockwell as Head of Scouting Operations at Southampton. Stockwell is leaving the club after almost 12 years to join Nottingham Forest.

HOPE POWELL, the former England Women's Head Coach, has joined the Men’s Under-20s as a Technical Advisor for their World Cup campaign in Argentina.

RIGHT TO DREAM have expanded into the MLS after San Diego were awarded the league’s 30th franchise. The global not-for-profit group already owns clubs in Denmark and Egypt, as well as Academies in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

MATEU ALEMANY has turned down the chance to become Aston Villa’s new Director of Football, Head Coach Unai Emery has confirmed. Earlier this month Barcelona said the Spaniard would be leaving the club on June 30th - a year before the end of his contract - to pursue a new “professional project”.

BURNLEY Head of Coaching Ian Jones is leaving the club after six years to become a Coaching Auditor with the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC).

FLEETWOOD TOWN are close to opening their new indoor dome as they await a decision on their application to go Category Two from next season.

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 could become a one-tier competition with no promotion or relegation under proposals being considered by clubs, reports Youth Hawk.

LIVERPOOL Loans Manager David Woodfine is leaving the club after almost nine years. He is their latest senior departure, with the exits of Sporting Director Julian Ward and Director of Research Ian Graham having already been announced.

BRENTFORD B Technical Lead Allan Steele is leaving the club after nine years to become Director of Football at Forest Green Rovers.

MANCHESTER CITY Under-18s beat Youth Cup winners West Ham 2-1 in extra time at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to complete a unique treble double.

MANAGERS who arrive at a new club? and publicly claim their players “are not fit enough” risk being “inflammatory and dangerous”, says former Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United Head of Performance Callum Walsh.