Sheffield United’s new coaching system confirms Coventry City as the team’s favorite, while the starlets get ready for their Wrexham match.

Due to Keith Andrews’ departure earlier this summer, Sheffield United announced the appointment of Gary McSheffrey, a former manager of Birmingham City and Coventry City, as their new U21 coach. The former Ireland international became a set-piece coach at Brentford, creating a vacancy in Chris Wilder’s staff.

After working with the senior squad during preseason, former U21 manager Micky Collins—a former manager of Huddersfield Town, Scunthorpe, Oxford United, and Bradford City—was promoted to first-team coach. McSheffrey, a former manager of Doncaster Rovers, will take over for Collins with the U21s. Jim O’Brien, a former player for Bradford City and Notts County, has also been named as United’s new U18s coach following Matt Thorpe’s departure.

Regarding the work being done at the academy, I’m thrilled. Aside from the supporters, I felt it was the nicest thing about the team last season. They will have the chance if they are talented enough, and then it will be their decision. They must be sufficient, and if they are, it becomes available. We enjoy working with young players, and since we moved Micky up to the first team, he has a great understanding of the attributes those guys possess. I will take the credit for that.

In 2016, we completely overhauled everything. And thanks to Jack, Del, and the coaches’ outstanding work, it has been growing. That needs to go on, and it will, I’m sure. Getting the training ground, enabling us to move to category one, and increasing our level of protection is the ultimate goal. However, as you can see, we’ve done a great job and are producing professional football players for the first team, as well as assets and careers, which is what an academy should accomplish.