KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have appointed Brandon Bevins as the club’s new academy manager following the departure of long-serving boss Luke Astley.
Bevins started out at Harriers as a volunteer before progressing to youth phase lead and assistant academy manager.
The UEFA B Licence qualified coach has managed across the club’s junior and senior academy sides.
Bevins will now oversee the football side of all Harriers academy programmes.
Bevins said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Kidderminster Harriers over the last six years and I am excited to take on this new challenge at the club as academy manager.
“For me, it is about providing the best life experiences and learning opportunities that we can for all our young players and the local community.
“Our goal is to develop well-rounded, talented individuals on and off the pitch and I am relishing the opportunity to provide that for all our players via our junior and senior pathways.
“I feel the club’s academy has really developed over the last three or four years and a good number of players are now having those opportunities and experiences with their respective first teams.
“I wish Luke Astley all the best in his new role, as he leaves behind good foundations, to which the staff and I will look forward to building on.”
Harriers CFO, Lee Jordan added: “I am delighted to bring Brandon on board as academy manager.
“Brandon has a great understanding of the club, our values and most importantly understands all areas of our pathway from our under-8 boys and girls right the way through to first teams.
“He has the experience, passion and skill to really drive our junior and senior academy forward, developing our players on and off the pitch.
“I have been nothing but thoroughly impressed in all dealings we as a club have had with Brandon in his role as assistant academy manager and I very much look forward to working with in his new role.”
The club also confirmed a number of new roles for some of Kidderminster’s other non-playing staff.
Kevin Bunn takes on the role of head of football operations with Leon Clarke the club’s lead professional development phase coach.
And Harry Butler is the club’s lead under-21s coach with Craig Hatfield head of youth development.
Mark Hudson takes on the role of lead PDP goalkeeper coach with Jack Cole head of academy analysis and George Preston head of physical development.
