BURNLEY have reapplied to return to Category One Academy status after their demotion last year.

ENGLISH football needs to seriously consider the B team model, because top young players are simply not getting enough exposure to senior football, Leeds United Academy Manager Adam Underwood has told TGG.

LEEDS UNITED Academy Manager Adam Underwood tells TGG why so many of the club's players and staff have gone on to prominent senior roles and picks out three key themes: investment, opportunity and alignment.

NATASHA PATEL has returned to Southampton as Assistant Academy Director after more than three years with New York Red Bulls in the MLS.

JIM FRASER has been promoted to Head of Youth Development and Recruitment by Chelsea following Neil Bath’s elevation to Director of Football Development and Operations.

NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Under-21s Lead Player Development Coach Elliott Dickman has left the club after 14 months. Dickman joined from nearby Sunderland, where he was U23s Lead, in October 2021 after 26 years with the Black Cats.

ERIK TEN HAG has said that “final responsibility” for Manchester United’s Under-21s “lies with me” and that “this is totally new” for the club.

LIVERPOOL Under-18s coach Jay Spearing has revealed he was rushed to hospital on Christmas Eve with a life-threatening condition.

STEVE DAVIS has been appointed to the new role of Player Pathways Manager by Wolves, with the objective of linking the first team and Academy.

IN the words of Danny Webber, Tony Whelan has been “player, coach, mentor, figurehead" at Manchester United, "a man who has meant a lot to a lot of people." In a special interview with MUTV to mark his 70th birthday, Whelan gives insights into his work "embodying some of the spirit of the club."

READING have applied to return to Category One Academy status and are confident of regaining their licence before the start of next season.

BIRMINGHAM CITY have split their Academy Manager role in two following the exit of Paul Williams after less than a year. Liam Daish has returned to the club he captained as Academy Manager (Football), with Danetta Powell promoted to Academy Manager (Operations).