BIRMINGHAM CITY have plugged gaps in their backroom team by appointing Frank McParland as Head of Recruitment and Joe Carnall as Chief Scout.

FORMER MK Dons manager Dan Micciche has been appointed to the new role of Player Development Lead Coach by Everton.

BEN DAWSON has returned to the role of Under-21s Lead at Newcastle as the club continue to reshape their Academy under new Sporting Director Dan Ashworth.

CRYSTAL PALACE first-team coach Shaun Derry has left the club after three-and-a-half years.

CHELSEA have moved to clarify the roles and responsibilities of their senior leadership team, with Laurence Stewart set to finally join the club from AS Monaco next week.

DALE BRUNTON is Luton's first Academy Operations Manager. This new role is crucial for any modern Academy and should help Luton achieve their ambition of going Category Two.

A TRIO of Manchester United Academy players will turn out for both their Under-21s and non-league Altrincham for the rest of the season as part of a “unique learning opportunity”.

TONY PULIS says Chelsea’s huge transfer spend under new owner Todd Boehly is at risk of “destroying” their Academy, which he describes as “probably the strongest in England.”

NEW Everton manager Sean Dyche has taken a trio of his former Burnley staff with him to Goodison Park: Ian Woan, Steve Stone and Mark Howard.

ON November 29th, Wigan Athletic unveiled Kolo Toure as their new manager, promising a “new, exciting era” for the club. Just 59 days later he was sacked, along with assistants Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal, with the club having failed to win in nine games under the new regime.

CHRIS ARMAS has joined Leeds United, meaning Jesse Marsch now has two members of Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United staff from last season as his assistants.

DARREN MOORE is the “full package” as a manager and will reach the top of the game, insists his Sheffield Wednesday first-team coach Jimmy Shan. Wednesday take on Fleetwood Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, having already put out giants Newcastle United in the last round.