Written by
Simon Austin
October 5, 2025
Fulham have announced a new Academy Leadership team, with club stalwart Steve Wigley taking on the role of Academy Director and Andrew Watt promoted to Academy Manager.
The appointments follow the exit of Academy Director Sean Cullen in May to become Head of Recruitment for Women’s and Girls’ at Brighton. Cullen had worked for the Cottagers for 10 years, starring as Academy Education Manager in 2015.
Wigley has spent more than a decade at Fulham in a number of different roles, including leading their Under-18s and U21s. Most recently he has been Technical Director and earlier this year his outstanding services to youth football were recognised by the Premier League, when he was presented with the Eamonn Dolan Trophy.
Watt has spent 19 years at Fulham and is promoted from Head of Coaching to Academy Manager. His tenure started as a part-time coach in the Foundation and has also been Foundation Phase Manager, Youth Development Phase Manager and Head of Football Operations.
As Academy Manager, Watt will “oversee the development of the Academy’s players and coaches, through the strategic management of coaches, coach developers and our insights team,” Fulham said.
Elsewhere, Dan Thomas, who has been with Fulham for 17 years, has been promoted from Head of Player Development to U21s Assistant. He will assist U21s Head Coach Hayden Mullins.
Finally, Andrew Joslin has taken on the role of U18s Head Coach. Joslin, who has been with Fulham for over a decade, has coached across the whole of the development pathway, from U9s to U21s. He has spent the last 12 months as Mullins’ Assistant with the U21s.
Fulham placed 15th in TGG’s Academy Productivity Rankings for 2024/25.
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