Over the last few months it has been all change in the Sky Blues Academy and one name that will be familiar to City fans is Andy Whing.
Having rose through the ranks himself and with over 100 appearances in the Sky Blue shirt, Whing has returned to aid Under-18s Lead Coach, Andy Crabtree on a day to day basis.
The defender left City back in 2007 after his time in the Academy lead to four years in the first team, before joining Brighton & Hove Albion, Chesterfield, Leyton Orient and Oxford United.
Coventry Academy Manager, Rich Stevens was delighted to be able to welcome someone with Andy’s experience back to the club, following his appointment.
He said: “It will be good to have another ex-professional helping out now in the Academy and another one amongst our ranks because we have been a little bit short of late.
“With Andy coming back; one he knows the system and two he knows the club and he is obviously developed as a coach since he left the club and I think he will bring a lot with his experience of playing at the top level and his experience of being at the club and he wants to learn and develop as a coach so it kind of suits both parties.
“It helps having that level of experience in the building because he can reference stages of his career and what’s he’s been through and his experience throughout his whole career.
“He can reflect on some of the highs and lows that young players go through, so from that part it’s a valuable appointment and when we interviewed Andy it was just evident that he was the one for the role.”
Whing will assist Crabtree in coaching the under-18s, who himself has stepped-up to be lead Under-18s coach this season.
Stevens spoke of the journey Crabtree has been on during the eleven years he has been with the club so far and is looking forward to seeing the partnership between Whing and Crabtree.
He added: “Andy Crabtree is now the under-18s lead and he has been at the club for 11 years now, starting at the club as a volunteer, coaching in my first year at the club.
“He has worked his way up through different age groups and he deserves his chance now to step up and take charge of the under-18s alongside Andy Whing and it should be a really good partnership.”
There have also been new appointments in the form of Head of Academy Physiotherapy with Donal Gallagher taking over, as well Mick Halsall coming in as Head of Academy Coaching.
Halsall has worked at several Football League clubs and has helped to develop many young players and Rich believes it is a fine appointment.
“Mick has developed many young players over his time at other clubs.
“Mick will come in to help the development of our coaches and educate them through his experience and help them to progress and he is another fine appointment. “