From a number of young players travelling to Switzerland and Austria with new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first team, to successful trips to Slovakia and Holland; it’s been a positive pre-season for the Academy of Football this summer.
While the likes of Reece Oxford, Nathan Holland, Nathan Trott and Conor Coventry – and more – journeyed abroad with the senior squad, coaches Liam Manning, Steve Potts, Jack Collison and Mark Phillips – as well as Academy Director Terry Westley – travelled with the remainder of the U18 and U23 teams.
Following those positive trips, Westley outlined some slight alterations which have now been made to the Academy’s setup.
The changes will see Manning and former Hammer of the Year Hammer Potts take charge of the U23 squad, with ex-West Ham midfielder Collison stepping up from the U16s to work with Phillips.
Those adjustments will allow Westley himself more opportunity to implement the Academy’s philosophy upon the Club’s younger teams, something he is looking forward to ahead of what is set to be an exciting 2018/19 season.
For Westley’s thoughts on both the Academy of Football and the new 2018/19 season, watch the video in full.