Swansea City U21s head coach and former academy manager Jon Grey has joined Gemma Grainger's Wales Women backroom staff.
The appointment has been made full-time ahead of Wales' two April friendlies against Northern Ireland and Portugal, with Grey having worked with Wales during last month's unbeaten Pinatar Cup run.
Wales' two friendlies act as a precursor to the inaugural Women's Nations League this autumn, but the overall aim to reach a first ever major women's football tournament remains as strong as ever. Having come agonisingly close to this summer's World Cup, but conceded a last-minute goal from Switzerland in extra time of a World Cup play-off final last October, Now, with qualifiers for the Women's Euros in 2025 set to begin early next year, Grainger is "leaving no stone unturned" to ensure qualification.
Lee Skyrme also joins Wales' backroom team, having been an individual player coach at Southampton B. He will be a familiar face to some, having worked in Wales as a development manager for the men's national team and enjoying a seven-year spell as Cardiff City U18s manager. Grey and Skyrme replace the outgoing Matty Jones, who is now Wales U21s boss, and Richard Thomas, who has taken the assistant manager role with League Two side Colchester United.
Grey's appointment marks the first time Wales Women will have a full-time assistant coach exclusively for the senior team. He joins having played an instrumental role in developing a number of Swans academy players who rose through the ranks into the first team, including Connor Roberts, Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Dan James and current first-team players Joe Allen, Ben Cabango and OIlie Cooper.
Former Wales age-grade player Grey, 45, said: "I’m delighted and excited to be joining the FAW at such a positive time for Welsh football. I spoke with Gemma about how we can work together, and within five minutes I knew I wanted to get involved. The matches next week will be great preparations for the Nations League, we know we have some big games coming up once the draw is made, and we have to be ready for them.”
Wales manager Grainger said: “Committing to a full-time member of staff for the first time is something that I requested after the last campaign. Funding and investment from the FAW means we are able to do that.
"I wanted a Welsh coach with a pro licence, and Jon was great in the environment when he was with us last month. Jon’s a great fit for the role and I can’t wait to work with him in the upcoming matches."
Grey joined Swansea aged 14 before signing a pro contract at the Vetch Field two years later in 1996, but injury put paid to his pro football ambitions. However, he returned to the Swans in a part-time coaching capacity with the academy in 2009, going on to secure a full-time role in 2012. He became U18s head coach in 2016 before moving to head of coaching in 2019, as well as being academy manager.
Swansea City academy manager Andy Goldie said: "It’s very fitting that Jon leaves us in the week another academy graduate makes his competitive debut for Wales. Just as he has with Ollie Cooper, Jon has made a significant contribution to the development and success of many of our graduates, both on and off the pitch, during his time at the club.
"His loyalty to Swansea City is very rare in football nowadays, even within the academy environment, having been here since he was 14 years old, but he’s ready for the next chapter in his career and we wish him the very best of luck with his new challenge with the FAW.“
Swansea said Anthony Wright would now lead the club’s U21s side, while a "staffing restructure will take place in due course as the club looks to evolve the academy programme to enhance its player development and support services".
Wales host Northern Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, April 6 (7.15pm kick-off), with tickets available at faw.cymru/tickets. Wales will then travel to Portugal to face them on Tuesday, April 11.
