OWEN EASTWOOD, who has worked with the England men's football team since 2016, shares insights about building an optimum environment for teams and athletes to thrive.

HARLEQUINS defied convention last season by winning the Premiership without a Head Coach. Is it time to reappraise the concept of the 'genius manager' which is still so prevalent in football?

QPR will begin work on their new training ground in Heston on Friday after the Borough of Hounslow approved planning permission for it. Costs will be partly covered by a new 'QPR Bond' inspired by Norwich City.

FORMER Birmingham City Academy Manager Mike Dodds has been appointed to the new role of Head of Individual Player Development at Sunderland.

STEVE McCLAREN has stepped down from his role as Technical Director at Derby County, although he will remain at the Championship club in a part-time consultancy basis.

BRAIN injury charity Headway has described guidance on heading in training as “unclear and ill thought out” after Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he had been ignoring the advice.

ENGLAND Lead Physio Steve Kemp says Gareth Southgate “puts a lot of energy” into making sure that the "team behind the team" feel valued and part of the culture with the Euro 2020 finalists.

WOLVES have launched a dedicated Academy website that they say is the first of its kind in the Premier League and will enable them to “provide a higher level of detail and resource than any other Academy across the globe.”

MANCHESTER UNITED have announced planned improvements to their Carrington Training Centre, which has been their home since 2000.

HUDDERSFIELD are basing their future on young players with potential and every department has been tasked with developing them, with Individual Development Plans to the fore.

CARDIFF CITY Academy Manager James McCarthy has left the club after more than two decades following the launch of an investigation into “non-recent allegations of bullying and poor practice”.

BAYERN MUNICH manager Julian Nagelsmann says electronic communication between players and coaches during matches is something “we absolutely need in football.”