Liverpool have introduced that under-18s supervisor Marc Bridge-Wilkinson will step down from his function on the membership on the finish of the season, ending his 10-year affiliation with the Reds.
Bridge-Wilkinson, who has 400 appearances within the Soccer League, first arrived on the Reds’ academy in 2015 to take cost of the membership’s U14s earlier than being promoted to the U16s in 2018.
In 2020 he then assumed the function of U18s supervisor, taking on from present U21s boss Barry Lewtas, the place he has remained till a choice was made on his future this yr.
Liverpool’s assertion learn that he “will step down,” with the Instances‘ Paul Joyce including on X that it was “his choice” that the membership “reluctantly accepted.”
The 46-year-old has performed a key function within the growth of notable academy graduates, together with Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and extra.
His exit, nevertheless, coincides with a major drop-off in performances and outcomes for the U18s, who’ve gained simply one in all their final 10 league video games, conceding 5 or extra objectives in 4 of them.
The younger Reds sit twelfth out of 13 groups within the U18 Premier League North desk in what has been a disappointing season of battle throughout all ranges of the membership’s academy.
An overhaul wouldn’t come as a shock in the summertime with the U18s function doubtlessly one in all a handful that will likely be topic to alter for the 2025/26 season.
On his departure on the finish of the season, Bridge-Wilkinson advised the membership’s web site: “It’s laborious to imagine it’s been 10 years since I joined LFC however now it’s time to transfer on to a brand new problem.
“The Academy is a particular place and it’s been an absolute pleasure to be a part of the staff for the previous decade.
“I’d wish to thank Alex Inglethorpe and Nick Marshall for giving me the chance and inserting religion in me to maneuver up by way of the age teams.
“An enormous thanks, too, to all of the teaching workers and the assist staff – being part of gamers’ journeys at such an essential stage of their growth is a large privilege and I’ll proceed to observe their careers carefully.”
Throughout his time on the membership, Bridge-Wilkinson led his U18s aspect to the 2020/21 FA Youth Cup last, which they sadly misplaced 2-1 to Aston Villa – his squad that day included Bradley, Quansah, Morton and Stefan Bajcetic.
