NEIL WOOD has been promoted to Under-23 coach by Manchester United, with Quinton Fortune as his assistant.

THIS month we go behind the scenes at the TGG Youth Development Conference in Manchester, with speakers Kris Van Der Haegen, Leigh Bromby and John McGuigan.

WEST BROM Academy Manager Mark Harrison has left the club to take up the same role at near neighbours Aston Villa.

DMITRI HALAJKO is leaving Leicester City to become Under-23s coach at West Ham as part of a major overhaul at the Hammers Academy.

KRIS VAN DER HAEGEN, Director of Coach Education for Belgium, says coaches need to put their ego to one side and focus on what is best for each player in their team.

COACHES from Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham were among the attendees at a packed TGG Youth Development Conference on Wednesday, while Manchester United defender Phil Jones also made a special appearance.

FORMER England rugby coach and National Academy Manager Brian Ashtons says Academies should be about more than just developing players for the first team.

SWANSEA CITY have made three Academy coaches redundant, including the first full-time female coach in men’s football.

THERE will be attendees from the Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Germany’s DFL at Wednesday’s TGG Youth Development Conference, which is now a sell-out.

SOUTHAMPTON are poised to announce a new Head of Player Development after splitting the traditional Head of Coaching role in two as part of an Academy revamp.

FORMER Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn has replaced Peter Beardsley as coach of Newcastle’s Under-23s.

NEIL WOOD is in the running for the vacant Under-23 job at Manchester United following the departure of Ricky Sbragia after less than two years.