Bradford City AFC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Tom Butcher, as the academy's new Lead Youth Development Phase Coach.
Butcher's promotion follows a spell working part-time within City's academy, and also running one of six development centres across the district alongside the Bradford City Community Foundation.
He fills the role vacated by Jordan Broadbent, who has left the club to take up an opportunity at a Sky Bet League One club's category-two academy.
Butcher said: "I am really pleased to be in the role. It is a great opportunity for me to work with some very talented young players. It will be exciting to oversee their progression over the next few years, and great to be a part of.
"Initially, it is about getting to know everyone, predominantly the players I have not worked with before, and then trying to build on the great work which has been done already. Jordan and Ryan Farrell - who have been in this role before me - have left the YDP in a very strong place, so I am looking forward to developing that further.
"It is a great time to be a part of this academy. The fact staff members have moved on, such as Martin Drury and Lewis Nightingale to Manchester United and Liverpool, shows what a great job people have been doing here, and Conor Marlin's arrival brings a lot of experience in what is an exciting time.
"I would like to put on record my thanks to Neil Matthews and Alan Nevison for their support. It is really good for other coaches to see there is a pathway for progression, and I would hope my appointment is encouraging for other coaches within the academy to progress, too.
City's head of foundation phase coaching and recruitment, Alan Nevison - who led the recruitment process - said: "Tom is a good person who we are really pleased to have on board in this role. He has shown a real commitment to the football club, both in the community and academy, over the past 15 years.
"He is already aligned to our culture and philosophy in the academy. We pride ourselves on not only giving players a pathway into professional football, but also providing staff with the opportunity to progress, which the likes of Mark Trueman are great examples of.