Two new additions to Finch Farm staff

Lyndon Lloyd 22/09/2022 16comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have appointed a new Head of Academy Coaching and Head of Sports Science this week as sporting director Kevin Thelwell continues the work of reshaping the coaching setup at Finch Farm.

The club confirmed the highly-respected Carl Darlington as Head of Academy Coaching on Tuesday. He joins the Blues after 17 years with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) where he spent the last year as Head of Coach Education.

As well as Tim Cahill, the likes of Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira, Steve Cooper, Thierry Henry, and Chris Wilder have all taken the Wales Pro Licence course under Darlington’s leadership.

According to the club, Darlington “will be responsible for implementing and managing a coaching and player development programme” at Finch Farm, working closely with all the Academy coaches, new Coach Educator Kevin Nicholson and Academy Director, Gareth Prosser.

Meanwhile, Jack Nayler will head up sports science at Everton. Formerly of RB Leipzig where he worked for 15 months, he has a Masters degree in strength and conditioning and a degree in sports and exercise science, physiology, nutrition, pedagogy, psychology, biomechanics and sports medicine.

He has a wealth of experience having spent nearly five years at Celtic before moving to Germany and has previously worked with Carlo Ancelotti at clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 22/09/2022 at 19:05:47
Who are the two new appointments?
Phill Thompson
2 Posted 22/09/2022 at 19:45:22
Carl Darlington from the FA Wales is the new Head of Academy Coaching, Jack Nayler is the Head of Sports Science for the Men's First Team, from RB Leipzig with a good history behind him.
Phill Thompson
3 Posted 22/09/2022 at 22:11:48
PS. Our former Head of Academy Coaching, John Ebbrell, looks like he's joining David Unsworth's staff at Oldham.
Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
4 Posted 22/09/2022 at 23:14:10
Sorry, Dave, the body of the article didn't come through at the time of posting. I've re-added it now.
Nick Page
5 Posted 22/09/2022 at 23:23:49
Sound like proper professional appointments rather than Billy's boys. What is this new Everton we hear of?
Paul Birmingham
6 Posted 23/09/2022 at 00:30:49
Interesting times.

Let's see, but this bodes well, for the future of EFC..

Kieran Kinsella
7 Posted 23/09/2022 at 00:42:50
Seems like we are moving to a meritocracy after running Finch Farm as a benevolent home for drunks and criminals for so many years.
Dupont Koo
8 Posted 23/09/2022 at 02:06:55
FAW had flown under the radar in providing one of the best and more innovative coaching programmes across Europe in the past number of years, as evidenced by the folks mentioned by Lyndon in the article who chose to obtain their badges via FAW. Carl Darlington has been a big part of that accomplishment, so I'm excited to have him now at Finch Farm. Fingers crossed that he will bring some state-of-the-art and innovative ideas to help up-skill our coaches at different levels.

Don't know much about Jack Nayler, but with him having worked for the RB Empire and a hands-on role under Don Carlo at different clubs, he has all the on-paper credentials that suggest a World Class hiring. Another solid hiring by Thelwell, IMHO.

Barry Williams
9 Posted 23/09/2022 at 05:36:38
It does seem to be getting more professional - roles fulfilled by people qualified for those roles!!!????
Nick Page
10 Posted 23/09/2022 at 07:25:36
Just a shame it's taken 25 years, Barry.
Phill Thompson
11 Posted 23/09/2022 at 09:48:42
My knowledge of Carl Darlington came from his spells at Wrexham and elsewhere where he had full-time posts. What is less clear is how he also managed 17 years at the FAW as he's only 40. This would have been a part-time role, I'm assuming.

We are certainly taking steps in the right direction.

Danny O’Neill
12 Posted 23/09/2022 at 09:53:34
Both seem to be respected figures in the game, not just at Everton Football Club. Both have impressive CVs.

It started with Lampard building his own management and coaching team. Now the gradual clear-out of Finch Farm is in full pace.

Cautious encouragement that we finally have a plan and a strategy.

Throw the caution away, Danny. We're building something here and finally it is based on getting foundations in place first. Rather than trying to build the roof first whilst the ground is subsiding beneath it.

Kieran Kinsella
13 Posted 23/09/2022 at 14:09:19
Dupont,

I didn't know about the FAW either. Sneaky old Welsh being innovative. Both men seem to have good credentials.

Jerome Shields
14 Posted 23/09/2022 at 22:48:46
These seem to be good professional appointments. When I first seen the heading on ToffeeWeb, I went into avoidance mode, hence my late post. Such a relief.
Justin Doone
15 Posted 24/09/2022 at 14:18:16
Another spin on this is we have too many middle-managers and not enough action or responsibility.

The proof will be in the pudding but, in a busy bakery, it's hard to know who made which pie or part.

Dave Abrahams
16 Posted 25/09/2022 at 18:35:17
Lyndon (4),

Thank you for the extra information, like a few posts have said we seem to be forming a more professional and solid coaching staff.

The boardroom still wants sorting out or are they untouchable?

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