Bulletin Board
Who’s in, who’s out and what’s available
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.
April 15, 2026
Fitness Coach De la Torre to leave Bournemouth
Fitness coach Pablo de la Torre will follow Head Coach Andoni Iraola in leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season.
De la Torre joined the Cherries with Iraola in the summer of 2023, having previously worked with him at Rayo Vallecano in Spain.
Iraola also brought his Vallecano Assistant Inigo Perez with him when he took over at the Vitality Stadium, but he was unable to stay because of work visa issues.
The rest of his Bournemouth backroom team was made up of the coaching staff who were already at the club when he arrived.
April 9, 2026
Furlong joins Watford as U21s coach
Former Watford striker Paul Furlong, who left QPR after 14 years in December, has joined the Hornets as Under-21s coach.
The former striker was Watford’s top scorer in 1992/93 and 1993/94 and his sale to Chelsea in 1994 for £2.3m helped generate funds to build the Rookery Stand.
“I really enjoyed my time here as a player and it’s a dream come true to be coming back,” Furlong said. “We have some top-quality players here, with good physical attributes, and I’m really encouraged by what I’ve seen so far.
“A couple have played for the first team recently and that’s what we want to do – produce players for Watford Football Club.”
Head of Coaching Micah Hyde, who previously worked with Furlong at QPR, added: “I’m really pleased to get Paul into the Academy to work with Adrian and the U21s. He has a wealth of experience and a strong track record, and I’m sure he’ll be a great addition to the club.
“He understands the culture and values of Watford and I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact he can have.”
Furlong served for 14 years in QPR’s Academy, latterly as Development Squad (17s to 21s) Head Coach, before leaving in December. He had originally joined the club as a part-time coach in 2011.
March 30, 2026
Duo leave Tottenham along with Tudor
Goalkeeping Coach Tomislav Rogic and Physical Coach Riccardo Ragnacci have both left Tottenham following the sacking of Interim Head Coach Igor Tudor.
The duo both came in with the Croatian in February, having worked with him previously in Italy. The third member of staff to arrive with Tudor – former Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham Assistant Bruno Saltor – is taking charge of Tottenham until a replacement for Tudor is appointed.
Meanwhile, five assistants who joined the first-team staff under Thomas Frank in the summer are staying on:
– Andreas Georgson (Assistant and Set Piece Coach)
– Cameron Campbell (Individual Development Coach)
– Fabian Otte (Goalkeeping Coach)
– Stuart Lewis (Transition Coach)
– Dean Brill (Assistant Goalkeeper Coach)
March 20, 2026
Lloyd promoted to Head of Academy at Port Vale
Danny Lloyd has been promoted to Head of Academy at Port Vale.
Lloyd has held the role on an interim basis following the departure of Will Ryder after four-and-a-half years at the start of February.
Lloyd joined Port Vale from Rochdale in August 2022, initially as YDP Lead and Assistant Head of Coaching. He progressed to become Head of Coach and Player Development and then Head of Academy Football.
“I’ve been at the club for nearly four seasons now, and it’s been a journey that I’m really proud of,” he said. “That progression reflects the opportunities the club has given me and the belief they’ve had in the work we’ve been doing within the Academy.
“I’d also like to thank Will for the work he did with the Academy and for the support he gave me during my time working alongside him. It was a really valuable period for my own development.
Meanwhile, Stuart Leicester will now take the Head of Coaching role across the full pathway, from Under-9s to U18s, while Chris Stirk has moved into the role of Head of Recruitment & Registrations.
The Foundation Phase, which will now include the U12 age group, will be led by James Wilcock. The Youth Development Phase will now include the U13s and will be led by Stephen Leyland as Phase Lead and Assistant Head of Coaching. Leyland will be supported by Nathan Lamey, who will take on the role of U13 to U15 Technical Lead.
March 11, 2026
Jones lands Head of Performance Analysis job at Wigan
Wigan Athletic have appointed Lauren Jones as their Head of Performance Analysis.
Jones moves from fellow League One club Exeter City, where she had worked in the identical role for the past two years.
Her football career began with an Academy Performance Analysis internship at AFC Bournemouth for the 2016/17 season and she spent the first half of the following campaign as a Technical Data Analyst at West Bromwich Albion.
She returned to Bournemouth at the start of 2018 and spent two years with the club as full-time Lead Academy Performance Analyst.
From there, she had two spells with Southampton – the first as PDP Performance Analyst and the second as First Team Opposition Analyst – with a brief spell as First Team Performance Analyst at Forest Green Rovers in-between.
She joined Exeter after leaving the Saints for a second time.
March 11, 2026
Arsenal appoint Man City’s Ibarra as Men’s First Team Nutritionist
Arsenal have appointed Manchester City's Academy Performance Nutritionist Pamela Ibarra as their new Men's First Team Nutritionist.
Ibarra had been at City for two years, starting as an Assistant Nutritionist in the Academy in February 2024 before being promoted the following January.
She also spent five months with Everton on an internship as Performance Nutrionist for the Women’s First Team in 2023 and had two years as a Performance Nutrition Advisor on a part-time basis for Ice Hockey UK.
Writing on LinkedIn, Ibarra said: “I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity and excited for the journey ahead alongside an exceptional team.”
March 6, 2026
Mowbray returns to Aberdeen as Head of Recruitment
Former Southampton Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray has returned to Aberdeen.
Mowbray worked for the Scottish side from 2021 to 2023 before joining the Saints, who he left last April amidst a wider restructure.
At Aberdeen, he will replace the departing Nuno de Almeida and lead their recruitment team into the summer 2026 window.
Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel said: “In recent months, Darren has been acting for the club in an advisory capacity but we are really pleased he has now agreed to return to the Head of Recruitment role at AFC.
“His work last time unearthed several significant signings that went on to not only perform well for Aberdeen but made the club many millions of pounds in transfer fees. We have invested a great deal in our scouting infrastructure over the last 12 months, and Darren will be able to build on that and give us a strong platform for many years to come.
“With Darren joining us, I would also like to thank Nuno de Almeida for all his hard work and effort in his time with Aberdeen and we wish him well for his future career.”
Mowbray added: “I’ve been back doing some consultancy work and scouting for the club for many months now, but when the opportunity came up to get back in the saddle, I was delighted to accept.
“We already have a very clear picture of the work we need to do for this summer, and my team and I will work exceptionally hard to give the new Head Coach the best possible chance by recruiting the strongest, most suitable players we can find.”
March 5, 2026
Gill joins Morrison’s backroom staff at West Brom
Technical Coach Matt Gill has joined West Bromwich Albion Interim Head Coach James Morrison's staff for the rest of the season.
Gill was most recently Assistant to Russell Martin at both Southampton and Rangers and has also worked for Tranmere Rovers, Norwich City, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Swansea City.
In his playing days, he made more than 400 senior appearances and won promotion with Peterborough United, Exeter City and Norwich.
Morrison, who was put in temporary charge last week after the sacking of Eric Ramsay, said: “Matt is a first-class coach with an outstanding character and I am convinced he will help us turn the tide on what has obviously been an incredibly poor season to date.”
Meanwhile the club have confirmed the news we reported last week that Dominic Price is the club’s new Technical Director.
Price left Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv FC two weeks ago, having been their Technical Director for the previous two-and-a-half years, during which time they won two Israeli Premier League titles.
Baggies chairman Shilen Patel said: “I look forward to Dom contributing his perspective, practices and enthusiasm to our efforts to continually improve. This is an important appointment for the football club and one I am confident will strengthen us both on and off the pitch in the years to come.”
TGG MEMBERS: West Brom staff profiles
March 3, 2026
Green appointed Head of Analysis at Wolves
Former Manchester United Analyst Tom Green has been appointed Head of Performance Analysis at Wolves.
Green worked for United for seven years, rising to become their Senior Performance Analyst. After a short stint at Besiktas in Turkey, he has returned to the Premier League to work with Wolves.
Matt Pearson was Head of Performance Insights and Data Strategy at the club before joining Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia last summer.
February 27, 2026
Knoop joins Forest as Goalkeeper Coach
German Marco Knoop, who was Brighton’s Goalkeeper Coach and Set Piece specialist in 2024/25, has joined Nottingham Forest.
Knoop began his coaching journey at VfL Bochum and has gone on to work for RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahçe, FC Nordsjælland, St Pauli and most recently Brighton.
Wayne Hennessey remains part of the department as Assistant Goalkeeper Coach.
February 25, 2026
Former Walsall boss Taylor joins Norwich Academy
Former Shrewsbury Town and Walsall Manager Matty Taylor has joined Norwich City's Academy on a short-term agreement to the end of the season.
The 44-year-old will help with the Canaries’ Under-18s alongside Greg Crane and Adem Atey. The move reunites Taylor with former boss Dean Rastrick, who is now Norwich’s Head of Football Development.
Taylor was U18s Coach at Tottenham from 2019 to 2021 while Rastrick was Academy Director. After that, Taylor moved into senior management as Head Coach of Walsall.
Before coaching, he played in the Premier League as a midfielder with Portsmouth, Bolton, West Ham and Burnley.