UNDER-16s lead Dan Micciche outlines the key principles of Arsenal's Academy and how they go about developing 'Strong Young Gunners.'

ASTON VILLA have submitted plans for a new ‘Inner City Academy’ in Birmingham, which will be targeted at youngsters living close to their Villa Park stadium.

MANCHESTER UNITED assistant Mark Dempsey - who worked with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Cardiff and Molde before moving with him to Old Trafford - is switching to a new role with the club’s Academy.

MIKE DODDS has been promoted to Academy Manager by Birmingham City as the club insist they will still continue with their pursuit of Category One status.

BIRMINGHAM CITY have admitted they are set to scrap all teams below their Under-17s - just three months after announcing they had applied for Category One Academy status.

BRIGHTON Technical Director Dan Ashworth says the club are fielding a 36-year-old in their Under-23s in an attempt to create a ‘hybrid’ of the old reserve team system.

DAVID UNSWORTH wants Everton's Academy to become “the best in the world” following a restructure that has taken place over the last few months.

SWANSEA CITY are advertising for a new Academy Manager after announcing that Nigel Rees is stepping down from the role after six-and-a-half years.

SOUTHAMPTON Director of Football Operations Matt Crocker says the club have ‘moved away’ from the loans system and will rarely send young players to other clubs.

BLACKPOOL have paid tribute to Academy Manager Warren Green, who has died at the age of 46. In recent seasons, he had “courageously battled against cancer while working in his role and was a continuous inspiration to all those around him,” the club said.

ARSENAL Academy Manager Per Mertesacker says every player in modern football needs to be a leader - of themselves.

ASTON VILLA have hired Nick Haycock from the Premier League to take up the new role of Head of Technical and Player Development.