Former Everton Under-21s Head Coach Tait joins Chester

Paul Tait, who left Everton in the summer when his role as Under-21s Head Coach was removed in a restructure of the club's Academy, has been appointed Youth Team Manager at National League North club Chester.

Tait, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, worked with players including Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon in Everton’s Category One Academy.

Supporter-owned Chester play in the sixth tier and, as a non-league club, sit outside the Elite Player Performance Plan. Their full-time Scholars programme, set up in 2017, has 22 players aged 16 to 19 who combine football with study through education partner Access Sport, and play in the National League U19 Alliance and the FA Youth Cup.

Tait, who played for the club’s predecessor, Chester City, in 2006, said: “It seems like a good fit for both parties, and the record that the football club has got at bringing through its own players is brilliant for any development coach.

“Everton was an amazing place for me. I have spent a lot of time there and learned so much from so many top people.”

General Manager Albert Davies added: “His appointment represents a real coup for the club and an exciting opportunity to continue developing our youth programme.”