Bulletin Board
Who’s in, who’s out and what’s available
October 20, 2025
Brentford appoint Burke as B Team Assistant
Chris Burke has left his role as Head of Development and Under-19s Coach at Kilmarnock to become B Team Assistant at Brentford.
The former winger played 180 games during five seasons with Kilmarnock before joining their coaching ranks in July 2023.
“Kilmarnock has been such a special part of my life since the day I arrived in 2017,” said Burke, who also played for Rangers and Birmingham City.
“I’ve had some incredible memories here, from moments on the pitch to working with the next generation of players. It’s been a privilege to represent the club and to coach within an environment that means so much to me.”
Burke’s move to Brentford unites him with Neil MacFarlane, who he assists for Scotland’s U19s. MacFarlane was Brentford’s B Team Head Coach before being promoted to the senior side in the summer.
Former Bees player Sam Saunders was then promoted from B Team Assistant to Head Coach.
October 16, 2025
Strength and Power Coach leaves Leicester after 13 years
Mitch Willis, one of the staff who helped Leicester City achieve the 'impossible dream' of winning the Premier League in 2015/16, has left the club after 13 years.
The Strength and Power Coach, who joined the Foxes in July 2012, has left to become Head of Performance Services for British Weight Lifting.
Writing on LinkedIn, Willis said: “After 13 incredible seasons, my time at Leicester City is coming to an end as I prepare to take on a new challenge.”
Leicester City have advertised for a replacement on TGG Jobs, stating that the successful applicant will “play a key role in developing and delivering evidence-based strength and power programmes for first-team players.”
October 13, 2025
Stephenson appointed Sheffield United First Team Head of Analysis
Sheffield United have appointed Joe Stephenson as their First Team Head of Analysis.
Stephenson returns to Bramall Lane, where he had nine months as Academy Performance Analyst Intern during the 2017/18 season. He had a similar placement with Sheffield Wednesday before that.
Since then, he has spent three years with Wolves, most of which was as Loans and Recruitment Analyst, a year as Swansea’s Head of Academy Analysis, two seasons with Middlesbrough as First Team Analyst – Lead Opposition and seven months at Luton as Senior First Team Analyst.
Most recently he had a four-month contract as Head of Analysis (Consultant) at Plymouth in the closing months of last season.
September 25, 2025
Crowther leaves Stockport to take on Villa U18s job
Jamie Crowther has been appointed as the U18s Professional Development Phase (PDP) Coach at Aston Villa.
Crowther joins from Stockport County, where he had been Senior PDP Coach/Under-21s lead since July 2022.
For the past two seasons, he has also been the Wales Under-18s Assistant Coach.
Crowther played for Colwyn Bay, Barrow, Connah’s Quay Nomads, Aberystwyth Town and Caernarfon Town before moving into coaching as First Team Coach at Airbus UK Broughton in July 2020. He left there for Stockport two years later.
September 24, 2025
Horseman appointed PDP Elite Player Development Coach by Arsenal
Former Forest Green Rovers Manager Dave Horseman has been appointed Professional Development Phase Elite Player Development Coach at Arsenal.
Horseman is a highly-experienced UEFA Pro Licence coach who worked for Southampton for four years, including as Under-21s Head Coach, before a short six-month stint in charge of Forest Green.
For the last four months he has been a PDP coach at Manchester United. At Arsenal he will work closely with PDP Lead Ken Gillard and U21s Head Coach Max Porter to manage the club’s U19s in the UEFA Youth League and the EFL Trophy.
Academy Manager Per Mertesacker said: “We are really pleased to welcome David into our Academy.
“He has a detailed knowledge of the game and will bring his wealth of footballing experience into the club to help progress both our staff and players alike.
“As a person, he will fit into our environment and culture perfectly, and will continue to help us drive our vision for the future. I look forward to seeing how he brings his skills to life on and off the pitch, and, in turn, help to challenge and care for our boys.”
Horseman added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the Arsenal Academy. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to supporting the development of the players while also leading the UEFA Youth League and EFL Trophy teams.”
September 17, 2025
Wright becomes Head of Analytics Solutions at City Football Group
Dougie Wright has been promoted to Head of Analytics Solutions at City Football Group.
In his new role, Wright will lead the Analytics Solutions function within the wider Football Intelligence department, led by Brian Prestidge.
His other responsibilities will include supporting the club’s analytical process support, implementing performance technologies in human performance, and designing and rolling out IP tools relating to scouting and recruitment.
Wright, who joined City Football Group as a Football Intelligence Analyst in March 2021, previously worked as a Video Analyst for Livingston and a Recruitment Analyst for Wigan Athletic.
September 17, 2025
Collins leaves Blackburn for Burnley Academy role
Adam Collins has left Blackburn Rovers to become Head of Academy Operations at local rivals Burnley.
Collins had been Head of Performance Analysis for both the first team and Academy at Rovers since November 2022.
He has previously worked for both Manchester United, as Performance Analyst for the first team, and Manchester City, as Head of Performance Analysis for the Academy, as well as for Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United.
Writing on LinkedIn about his new role at Turf Moor, he said: “It takes me back into the Academy and learning environment full-time, where my passion has always been….at an exciting time, with the Academy recently returning to Category 1 status.”
September 11, 2025
Ibrahim named as Men’s First Team Doctor at Everton
Everton have named Mubin Ibrahim as their Men's First Team Doctor.
He replaces William Fotherby, who left to join Manchester United earlier in the month.
Ibrahim worked part-time as a Doctor at Everton last season.
He previously worked for Salford City – as Club Doctor for seven years and then as part-time Head of Medicine for just over two years. Earlier this year, he worked as a Doctor for the Football Association of Wales for four months.
Writing on LinkedIn, he said: “I feel privileged to be taking on this role and looking forward to getting started!”
September 11, 2025
Huddersfield Head of Strength and Conditioning Adams joins Al Ain Club
Huddersfield Town Head of Strength and Conditioning Callum Adams has left the club and joined UAE side Al Ain Club as Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Adams spent more than 11 years with the Terriers – initially joining as a Sports Science Intern in 2014. He was appointed to the staff a year later as First Team Physical Performance Coach and became Senior Physical Performance Coach in the summer of 2020, before being promoted to his final role in May 2022.
He worked with 15 Managers/Head Coaches and five Interim Head Coaches during his time at Huddersfield and, writing on LinkedIn, said: “What a ride it has been. I have grown from a boy to a man during my time here, this club has shaped me not only professionally but also personally.
“Huddersfield Town has become my second home and because of that I will follow and support them for the rest of my life. I feel I am leaving the club in a really good place.”
September 3, 2025
Grimsby appoint ex-Liverpool coach Shearwood as Coach Analyst
Grimsby Town have appointed Ray Shearwood as Men's First Team Coach Analyst.
The League Two club said Shearwood will “play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality performance analysis to support tactical objectives, individual player development and team preparation”.
Shearwood said he wanted to “create a culture where data, analysis and coaching combine to deliver success on the pitch”.
Shearwood returns to England after just over a year-and-a-half as Lead First Team Analyst at Saudi side Al-Ettifaq. Before that, he spent almost 10 years working for Liverpool’s Academy, coaching different age grades. His first analysis job came in August 2019 when he was appointed Individual Coach and Analyst for the Under-15s/16s and a year later he became the Analyst and Coach for the Under-21s.
He started his coaching career at Preston North End.
The role of Coach Analyst is becoming a more popular one in football, with clubs like Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion, Oxford United and Colchester United among others who have appointed one.
August 27, 2025
Hawkes becomes Everton’s Head of Performance Analysis
Everton have promoted Matthew Hawkes to become their new Head of Performance Analysis.
Hawkes joined the Toffees in July 2017 as Analyst for their Under-23 team and was promoted to First Team Performance Analyst a year later, before moving up to First Team Lead Performance Analyst at the start of the 2021/22 season.
He has also worked for Blackpool and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
August 27, 2025
Giakoumis named Head of Rehabilitation at Man City
Manchester City have appointed Michael Giakoumis as Head of Rehabilitation for their men's first team.
Giakoumis had been Head of Athlete Injury Management for the City Football Group, which wholly or partially owns 13 clubs around the world including Manchester City, since October 2022.
He has also been Reserve Team Physiotherapist for Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, Lead Physiotherapist for Reading women’s first team and Physiotherapist for Northern Blues Australian rules football team.
Giakoumis joins a team which includes Rehabilitation Performance Coach Jason O’Keefe, Performance Director Simon Timson, Director of Player Health and Performance Dan Lewindon, Director of Performance Federico Genovesi and Head of Physical Performance Chris Elderkin.
Other clubs have been revamping their medical departments over the past 12 months, including Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, who split their physio departments between having a Rehab Physio to focus on injured players and a Performance Physio, who works with the matchday squad.
August 20, 2025
Ex-Manchester United coach Gaudino joins St Etienne
Former Manchester United First Team Fitness Coach Paolo Gaudino has become the First Team Physical Performance and Reconditioning Coach at St Etienne.
Gaudino joined United in July 2012 and worked under 11 Managers, both permanent and interim, starting with Sir Alex Ferguson. However, he left Old Trafford in a series of redundancies in June.
St Etienne were relegated from Ligue 1 last season, but are now under new ownership in the form of Canadian investment group Kilmer Sports Ventures, who have installed former Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis as their President.
They are currently top of Ligue 2 in France and have a strong British and Irish presence at the club. Gaudino will report into former Manchester City Head of Performance Donough Holohan, who is now Director of Performance at St Etienne, overseeing performance and medical.
Other members of the department are performance coaches Dave Tivey, the former Nottingham Forest and Swansea City Head of Performance, and Calum Daley, the former Head of Performance at Ebbsfleet and Leyton Orient.
August 18, 2025
Ward leaves Solihull to take up Dubai Irish role
Solihull Moors Director of Football Stephen Ward has left the club to become the new Head of Football Development at Dubai Irish FC.
Ward had worked at the National League club for two seasons, in the first of which they were a penalty shootout away from reaching the Football League for the first time.
In his playing career, he made more than 500 senior appearances for Bohemians, Wolves, Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Stoke City, Ipswich Town and Walsall, while also winning 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Writing on LinkedIn, Ward said he had “loved every minute” of his time at Solihull – calling it “a very special place to work”.
He is the second coach to move from the West Midlands to Dubai Irish this month, after former Wolves’ Head of Player Development Darren Ryan joined the club as Head of Youth Development.
Ward will work on developing Dubai Irish’s football operations from Academy to senior level.
August 13, 2025
DeFreitas leaves Man City to take up role at Derby County
Ryan DeFreitas has left his role as First Team Performance Analyst at Manchester City to become First Team Opposition Analyst at Derby County.
DeFreitas had been in the role at City for three years having previously spent more than nine years at Leicester City as Lead Academy Performance Analyst. He arrives at Pride Park as the latest new appointment by John Eustace, who was appointed as Head Coach in February 2025.
DeFreitas’s departure is the latest in a string of changes in City’s backroom team over the summer.
They include former Liverpool Assistant Pepijn Lijnders being named Pep Guardiola’s new number two, and James French following him from Anfield to become Set Piece Coach, while Assistants Juanma Lillo and Carlos Vicens and First Team Coach Inigo Dominguez all left the club.
Chris Elderkin was promoted to Head of Physical Performance to replace Donough Holohan, and Federico Genovesi was promoted to Director of Performance in other changes.
August 8, 2025
Thomas appointed Assistant Head of Academy at Doncaster
Ebun Thomas has been appointed Assistant Head of Academy and Head of Coach Development at Doncaster Rovers.
Thomas joins from Gillingham, where he had worked for three years and was Head of Coaching.
Category Three Doncaster have had an Academy revamp following the departure of long-serving Head of Coaching Steve Welsh.
His role has now been split in two, with Thomas responsible for “creating staff for the future and supporting their development”.
This will involve “designing and implementing the syllabus and coaching philosophy for the Academy and ensuring alignment across the phases and coaches.”
Meanwhile, Josh Law has joined from Barnsley, where he was YDP Lead, to become Head of Player Development. Law will “manage the tactical and technical development of youngsters within the Academy in line with the club’s playing philosophy with the aim of creating players of value for the first team.”
Doncaster’s Head of Academy is Stuart Swift. The club placed 71st in TGG’s Academy Productivity Rankings for 2023/24.
August 6, 2025
Ryan leaves Wolves for post in Dubai
Wolves' Head of Player Development Darren Ryan has left the club to become Head of Youth Development at Dubai Irish FC.
Ryan was named as permanent coach of the Wolves’ Under-18 side in July 2017 and had been in his last role for the past four seasons. He had also worked as an Elite Player Development Coach for Wolves and a Coach Mentor for the Football Association. While at Molineux, he coached the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, now at Nottingham Forest, and Dion Sanderson, currently on loan at Derby County.
He played professional and semi-professional football for a number of clubs including Shrewsbury Town, Chester City, Stockport County, Rochdale, Barry Town and Newport County.
On their Facebook page, Dubai Irish said: “This is a huge step forward in building one of the UAE’s most progressive youth football environments.”
TGG Members: Wolves staff profiles
July 30, 2025
Ex-Wolves Performance Head Pearson takes Saudi job
Former Wolves’ Head of Performance Insights and Data Strategy Mathew Pearson has become the Head of Performance Analysis at Saudi club Al-Qadsiah.
Pearson left Wolves earlier this month after more than eight seasons at Molineux, having taken on his final role at the club in September 2020.
At Al-Qadsiah, he will be responsible for leading a club-wide Performance Analysis department and “creating a best in class analysis provision” for their men’s, women’s and Academy teams.
Pearson has worked in the Middle East before, spending more than two-and-a-half years with the Qatar Football Association across their senior team in World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers and also their Olympic team.
He has also worked for Tranmere Rovers and Blackburn Rovers.
July 30, 2025
Wolves appoint Jerome as First Team Sports Scientist for Data
Ben Jerome has left Blackburn Rovers to become First Team Sports Scientist (Data) at Wolves.
Jerome, who had only been at Ewood Park since January, has also worked for Watford, Colchester United and Ipswich Town.
He joins an analysis team at Molineux, which already includes Performance Insights Data Scientist Edward Maw, First Team Performance Analyst John Boston, First Team Assistant Performance Analyst Tom Hocking and Lead First Team Performance Analyst Ed Ames.
July 22, 2025
Ismael confirms Lowe’s departure from Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers Head Coach Valerien Ismael has said that First Team Coach David Lowe will be leaving the Championship club.
Lowe has been at Ewood Park since 2011 and has had various roles, including a brief spell as caretaker manager when John Eustace left last season.
Ismael succeeded Eustace in February and told the Lancashire Telegraph it was natural for Head Coaches to have their own coaching staff. “It’s something that the club is clear with him. You work closely with the people you want, but I think it’s normal. We have no problem with David. It’s just the situation in football. You move in, move out and we move on,” he said.
Lowe spent his first six years with Blackburn as Head of Youth Development, but was promoted to Assistant First Team Manager under Tony Mowbray. Before joining Rovers, he coached for Wigan Athletic and Derby County.
He played more than 600 senior games as a winger for Wigan, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Wrexham.