Liverpool in advanced talks to appoint Manchester United academy coach Simon Wiles as under-18s coach

New York Times

2 days ago

Liverpool are in advanced talks to appoint highly-rated Manchester United academy coach Simon Wiles as their new under-18s head coach.
The former Blackpool midfielder is set to replace Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who left Liverpool after 10 years of service at the end of last season.
Preston-born Wiles only joined United's academy last September as lead coach for the under-14s following two and a half years as first-team coach at Salford City.
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Prior to that he spent six years at Fleetwood Town where he worked his way up from youth development coach to first-team coach. At both Salford and Fleetwood he had short spells as interim head coach.
The 40-year-old's playing career included spells at Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Dunfermline Athletic and Barrow before it was cut short by injury.
Wiles becomes the latest United academy coach to progress and leave for a raised position, after Justin Cochrane, Paul McShane, Tom Huddlestone, Neil Wood, Neil Ryan, and Neil Gittins among others.
The plan is that Wiles will work alongside long-serving Liverpool academy coach Anthony Ryan, who has been promoted from his role with the under-15s to become under-18s assistant coach. Ryan is currently in charge of team affairs and oversaw last weekend's opening friendly win over Welsh outfit Connah's Quay Nomads.
It's been a summer of significant changes for Liverpool's academy following the departures of Bridge-Wilkinson and under-21s boss Barry Lewtas. Bridge-Wilkinson has subsequently been appointed assistant manager at League One club Huddersfield Town.
Liverpool brought in former Wales boss Rob Page as Lewtas' successor. It's Page's first role since he was sacked by Wales last June after four years in charge of the national team which saw him lead them to both the Euros and the World Cup.
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