Reading appoint legend Gilkes as new Academy Manager
Former winger Gilkes played more than 400 games for Reading
Written by Simon Austin — November 29, 2019
FORMER player Michael Gilkes has replaced Ged Roddy as Reading’s new Academy Manager.
The Uefa Pro Licence coach steps up after Roddy, the former Premier League Director of Football Development, was sacked by the Royals at the start of the week.
Gilkes is a Reading legend, having played more than 400 games and scored 52 goals during a 13-year career for the club.
He joined their Category 1 Academy in 2013 and coached the Under-18s before being promoted to first-team coach under Jaap Stam in September 2017. He carried on in the role under Paul Clement, but moved to Academy Operations when Jose Manuel Gomes came in with his own staff.
The Championship side were eager to appoint a “Reading man” who had a good relationship with coaches, players, parents and the wider community to the Academy Manager role.
Roddy arrived at the club with a stellar pedigree, having introduced the EPPP system at the Premier League, but lasted less than two years in post.
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