Cardiff City
Training Ground
Vale Resort, Hensol Rd, Hensol, Pontyclun CF72 8JY
Gavin Reen, Academy Operations Manager
01443 667800
gavin.reen@cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Academy
34 Mendip Rd, Llanrumney, Cardiff, CF3 4JN
Gavin Chesterfield
gavin.reen@cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Academy Info
Academy Category: Two
Academy Manager: Gavin Chesterfield
Under-21s Head Coach: Darren Purse
Leadership
English
Lee Southernwood
Head of Football Operations
Joined in January 2015 as Head of Fitness and Conditioning, having been Head of Sport Science at Leyton Orient for three-and-a-half years. Moved into his current role in November 2019.
Coaching
Irish
Brian Barry-Murphy
Head Coach
Appointed on a three-year contract in June 2025 following the club’s relegation from the Championship. He moved from Leicester City where he had been appointed Assistant Manager in December 2024.
Enjoyed a near 20-year playing career and went on to be Rochdale Manager from 2019 to 2021. A Pro Licence holder, he was then Under-21s boss at Manchester City, helping them win Premier League 2 in 2022 and 2023.
English
Lee Riley
Assistant Head Coach
Joined with Barry-Murphy in June 2025, having previously been his Assistant at Rochdale, where he spent more than seven-and-a-half years.
Had been an Academy Coach at Manchester City since November 2021 before joining Cardiff and before that was a Youth Coach at Morecambe.
English
Kieron Lovelady
First Team Coach and Analyst
Appointed in August 2025 – returning to the UK after half a season as First Team Coach of Turkish Süper Lig side Adana Demirspor. When he joined Adana, the 27-year-old was thought to be the youngest English coach working at first-team level in any of Europe’s top 10 leagues. Previously worked in the Academy at Rochdale, Preston North End and Manchester City.
English
Gavin Ward
Goalkeeping Coach
Played for the club from 1989 to 1993. Returned on an interim basis in September 2024, having previously coached at QPR for eight years.
Performance & Medical
English
Kevin Gibbins
Head of Performance
Joined in July 2025 as part of new manager Brian Barry-Murphy’s backroom team, having worked with him between 2019 and 2021 at Rochdale. Gibbins had two spells working at Dale, before leaving them to move to Cardiff, in roles including Assistant Head Coach and Head of Football Science. He also played for them for three-and-a-half seasons.
Welsh
Professor Len Nokes
Team Doctor
Joined as club doctor in 1991. Won the club’s outstanding contribution award at the end of 2017/18.
English
James Rowland
Head of Medical Services
Joined from Port Vale, where he had been for almost three years, in March 2017. Promoted to Head of Medical Services in October 2023.
Welsh
Hayden Lau
Sports Scientist
Joined Cardiff’s Academy in 2017 and promoted to first-team duties in September 2022.
English
Chris Lewis
Physio
Joined club in July 2016 as an Academy Physio before being promoted to first team.
Liam Donovan
First Team Physio
Worked for Cardiff’s Academy from 2019 to 2023 before spending a year as Chelsea’s PDP Physio. Returned to the Bluebirds in February 2024 as First Team Physio.
Analysis
Luke Foulkes
Lead First Team Analyst
Joined the Bluebirds in June 2025. Previously held analysis roles at Sheffield United, York City, Bolton Wanderers, Leeds United and Western Sydney Wanderers as well as the Football Association.
English
Matt Jenkins
First Team Analyst
Was an intern at the club before leaving for West Brom. Returned in 2018 to work with the U23s and was promoted to First Team Data Analyst under Neil Harris in November 2020 and to his current role at the start of the 2023/24 season.
English
Nicolaus Yeung
Assistant Analyst
Joined in 2019 as an Intern Analyst and Development Centre Coach. Became U18s Analyst in 2021 and First Team Assistant Analyst in 2023.
Irish
Patrick Deboys
Recruitment Analyst
Arrived as an intern in January 2016. Promoted to first team assistant analyst in October 2016 before being appointed Lead Recruitment Analyst in January 2020.
Rob Clarke
Data Analyst