Liverpool nears appointment of Man Utd coach to worsen rivals' worrying trend

3 weeks ago 95

Liverpool is reportedly in negotiations to secure the services of coach Simon Wiles from fierce rivals Manchester United, as the Premier League champions look to appoint a new U18 side coach.

Currently leading the U14s at Old Trafford, Wiles is poised to cross the divide and join the Reds' older age group at Kirby. This move would mark the end of his relatively short tenure in Manchester, having only joined them in September 2024.

The search for a new youth grade side coach has been ongoing at Liverpool since Marc Bridge-Wilkinson decided to end his ten-year stint with the club. His request to leave was reluctantly accepted, and he will now take up an assistant role at Huddersfield Town.

Wiles comes highly recommended, and according to The Athletic, his move to Liverpool is all but confirmed. He previously held the position of caretaker boss at Salford City, where Gary Neville is a co-owner.

His anticipated departure from Old Trafford is a blow and continues the concerning trend of academy coaches opting to leave for better opportunities elsewhere, despite demonstrating great competence in their roles with the Manchester outfit.

Justin Cochrane, Paul McShane, Tom Huddlestone, Neil Ryan, and Neil Gittins have all departed United in recent years. Neil Wood also falls into this category, having left the youth set-up in Manchester to take on the top job at Salford.

Mark Bridge-Wilkinson has recently left Liverpool after 10 years

Mark Bridge-Wilkinson has recently left Liverpool after 10 years

Wiles embarked on his coaching journey with Blackpool's academy in June 2013, before shifting his focus back to his playing career, which eventually concluded in 2018. Upon hanging up his boots, he took up the role of U18s coach for League One outfit Fleetwood Town and even served as their interim manager in 2021 following the dismissal of Joey Barton.

He departed Fleetwood to join Salford in 2022 as a first-team coach, a position that paved the way for his appointment at United's academy in September of the same year. Wiles is set to collaborate with Anthony Ryan upon his arrival at Liverpool, with Ryan transitioning from the U15s to take on the role of assistant head coach for the U18s.

Ryan is currently holding the fort as Liverpool U18s' interim boss after Bridge-Wilkinson's departure. The club's youth team has proven effective in recent years, with both Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot frequently providing opportunities for the club's young prospects to shine.

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