Jake Buxton is interim first-team coach at Derby County.
Jake Buxton has been given a key role.
Derby County will launch a B-team next season as they look to develop the stars of the future at Pride Park.
The team will compete in the Central League and the Derbyshire Senior Cup as well as play elite friendlies while the club's under-21s will play in the Premier League 2 and Premier League Cup.
The move has been backed by the club's board and head coach , and the B-team are
are following the lead of Brentford and Huddersfield, who have also set up B teams and they are regarded a
Derby academy manager, Matt Hale, said: “This innovative concept will provide a base for our high-potential Academy players to get game time alongside and against senior footballers, with a key aim of bringing the first-team methodology closer to the academy.”
Chief executive Stephen Pearce added: "We've always talked about our academy and giving players the best opportunity, and from John's perspective, they have to be ready and earn their place in the first team.
"We've been working for a while with Matt Hale and the academy coaches and also with John and his staff around how we make that pathway smoother and more achievable.
"The role that Jake Buxton was doing last season, we have made into a permanent position. He is sort of the player transition coach who is based in the first team.
"With that role in there, we are also creating to run alongside the under-21s and under-18s, which run the Premier League 2, and the EPPP pathway, a B team model.
"That will consist of members of the first team who may need minutes or to develop younger players.
"The best talent from the academy will also play in there. That's not instead of the Premier League 2 academy. This is an addition, and it is a great step forward because it means we can have Bucko in there. We are bringing Keith Briggs into that model and then you have Danny Maye into the under-21s and Bradley Johnson into the under-18s.
"We have got some real talent looking at those and that will really help the pathway into the first team. The challenge we have always had is that the EPPP Premier League 2 model, and playing academy football, is that the style of football being pure academy versus men's football versus what we want to do.
"The B-team will play in the style of the first team and hopefully help with the transition of players."
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As a result of the B-team being introduced, there have been changes behind the scenes.
Keith Briggs, who was part of the under-21s set up, will take on the role of B Team lead coach, which will see him manage the group.
He will ensure they follow the key principles and skills required by the first team.
Keith Gilroy is joining the club as head of academy coaching from Burton Albion where he was their lead professional development phase coach, head of coaching and most recently academy manager.
Buxton's role will see him concentrate on individual player development, both with first-team players and high-potential academy players making the transition into the senior environment.
Danny Maye has been promoted to the role of senior professional development phase coach, after working as Lead Under-18 Coach since arriving at the club in August 2023.
He will take charge of the club’s Under-21, Under-18 and Under-17 programmes.
Former Rams midfielder Bradley Johnson, who had his first full-time coaching season in 2024/25, has been promoted to the role of Lead Under-18 coach.
He will manage them in the Premier League North, the Premier League Cup, and the FA Youth Cup.
Who is your next tip to come through the academy?