Bolton Wanderers have announced Matt Craddock as the club's new B team head coach with Dave Gardiner being in charge of the academy and Julian Darby handed a new coaching position.
Wanderers will be operating a B team from next season onwards after the decision was made to develop the pathway to the senior set-up. There was a choice made between this and an under-23s side, with the former being chosen.
The club's reserves team competed in the EFL's Central League and been run by first-team coach Sam Hird in the course of the 2021/22 campaign. It gave younger players a competitive division to play in and allow first-team players some minutes as they make returns from injury.
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Trial fixtures have taken place - including one before the end of the season - to assess players who will fill the ranks of the new B team. It has included those released from top Premier League academies.
Wanderers have now issued an update on the B team and the club's academy. Craddock has been appointed the club's B team head coach, with Gardiner as the new head of academy and Darby becoming the under-18s boss, stepping up from his role with the under-16s.
Craddock, 37, was previously head of coaching at Preston North End and with experience of working for the FA, will head up a specific squad which will compete in the Central League and also play frequent other fixtures against a variety of opposition.
“I’m really thankful to the people who have put their trust in me because it’s a real opportunity for me,” said Craddock.
“It’s something I think I’m ready for and what has struck me over the last few days from the conversations I’ve had is that there are a lot of people working in the same direction.
“We are all aligned and I think when you get a lot of good people going in the right direction you can do so some really good things and I’m really pleased to be part of it.
“The first team is getting better and better and, like the manager has mentioned this year, the U18s are doing a really good job but the gap between the two is getting wider and wider as the first team progresses.
“The role of the ‘B’ team is to try and bridge that gap so that we can give some more time and dedicated effort to the players who are showing promise that maybe aren’t ready for the first team now, but we think have potential to impact the first team at a later stage.
“That’s what our job is going to be – to support those players, give them an opportunity and really specific training so we can develop them to hopefully get closer and be ready to be called upon as and when they’re needed.”
The B team squad will be made up of a core of Wanderers’ existing young players and some new arrivals this summer. Craddock will be hoping to propel them towards a first-team career.
Gardiner, 42, will be seeking to help revive the club's Academy system – which currently has Category Three status – and is looking forward to getting going in his new role.
“I’m excited by the challenge. The club is really going places and now it’s about making sure the Academy goes forward with that vision,” he said.
“We’re excited to really get things going and align everything. We have a great infrastructure in place, we’ve got some fantastic youngsters in the Academy and some great staff.
“It’s now about making the most of the potential and being ready to move forward in the future as we do step up as an Academy.”
Wanderers have recruited from within when it comes to filling the three roles and Whites boss Ian Evatt has explained why the opportunities have been granted to the trio.
“There have been some big decisions behind the scenes and what we’ve tried to do is promote from within – people that know the club, the community and the town. I’m a big believer in giving people opportunities,” he said.
“Dave deserves this opportunity. There’s no-one better than Dave for knowing the Academy, how it runs, what’s working and what’s not.
“Matt came in as Head of Coaching last season. We feel his relationship with Dave is an important one and he is very much a modern-thinking coach who believes in our brand and our identity and can really help develop those players in the stage between U18s and first-team football.
“Julian is another Bolton man and experienced coach and I’m really pleased with those three taking up those important roles.
“The club is moving in the right direction. That’s the most important thing.”
