Manchester City have made a key move in their plans to further develop their much-vaunted academy with the appointment of Brian Kidd as technical development manager. Widely regarded as one of the country's leading coaches, he will work with the club's promising youngsters and head up training for the academy staff. Kidd, 60, has vast experience. Having won the European Cup in 1968 with Manchester United, he went on to play for Arsenal and City before turning his hand to management.
It was a 10-year spell at Old Trafford where he established his credentials, becoming assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson during a successful period that saw United claim four Premier League titles. Kidd left to become manager of Blackburn in 1998, but relegation cost him his job a year later. He has since worked with Leeds, England and Portsmouth, where he joined Paul Hart to help keep Pompey up last season.
Brian Marwood, the club's football administration officer, said: "Brian has vast experience at both club and international level and will help maintain the excellent development programme we have in place at the academy. As a top-class coach he was much in demand when it became clear he wasn't going to stay at Portsmouth and we are delighted that Brian has chosen to come and work with us." Kidd's arrival forms part of the long-term restructuring of the club's academy and expanding it overseas, including a first international academy in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.
Jim Cassell will oversee this project and Andy Welsh has taken over his role as academy manager. Welsh described Kidd as an "innovative and forward-thinking coach" and added: "Brian will be a huge asset to us." akhan@thenational.ae
