Stoke City Veteran Coach Takes On New Role at Burnley in the Premier League
A long-serving and respected member of Stoke City’s coaching staff has officially joined Burnley, stepping into a key academy role at the Premier League club. Burnley confirmed the hiring of the former Stoke coach, who was a well-liked figure at Clayton Wood, Stoke’s training ground. His departure in the summer of 2023, amid a sweeping staff overhaul led by then-technical director Ricky Martin, was met with disappointment among staff and players alike.
Since then, several former Stoke personnel have found new positions across the football world. Andy Cousins joined Chelsea’s recruitment department, chief scout Tommy Coakley moved to Bournemouth, coach Rich Walker became part of Wolves’ academy setup, and John O’Shea took on a role with the Republic of Ireland national team. Meanwhile, Rory Delap has worked alongside Robbie Keane in both Israel and Hungary, Paul Walsh became a sports scientist for Bolton Wanderers, Kevin Russell joined Huddersfield Town, and physio Andy Foster returned to Stoke.
The newly appointed coach will now work closely with Burnley’s academy manager Chris Casper, aiming to strengthen the development pathway from the youth teams to Scott Parker’s first team. He will play a vital role in ensuring the alignment and consistency of coaching philosophies throughout the academy.
Speaking about his new position, he described his responsibilities as “broad and varied,” highlighting the importance of developing a unified coaching approach across age groups. His focus will be on elevating the standards of coaching and making sure staff are well-prepared to deliver high-quality training to players ranging from under-9s to under-21s.
He noted that the recent audit of the academy program showed no major concerns, giving the club confidence as they prepare to compete with top-tier youth systems. While the schoolboy program is expected to remain mostly unchanged for the next season, higher expectations are set for the under-18 and under-21 squads, both of which have enjoyed success at Category Two level. The coach emphasized that the players will be expected to rise to these new challenges, and the staff will also adapt to help provide the best possible environment for growth.
“Our primary mission is to develop players for the first team,” he said. “That means maintaining clarity and unity in our purpose. Although the first team’s focus is on winning matches, our job is to prepare young players for that competitive setting.”
He also stressed the importance of nurturing players both on and off the pitch. “These are still young individuals growing socially and personally,” he explained. “It’s vital that we support their full development and ensure that when they do make the step up to the first team, it’s a smooth and familiar transition.”
Burnley are scheduled to travel to Stoke City for a pre-season friendly on Saturday, August 2, giving the coach a quick return to his old stomping grounds in a new capacity.
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