Keith Southern has returned to his former club Fleetwood Town after leaving Everton after nearly a decade of service
Everton Under-18s coach Keith Southern
Keith Southern has left Everton after nearly 10 years at the club(Image: Emma Simpson/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
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A long-standing Everton coach who departed the club as part of the academy restructure this summer has landed a new top.
Keith Southern spent nine-and-a-half years with the Blues and held a variety of roles including head coach of the Under-18s, who he led to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals last season.
But Southern has now moved on and returned to Fleetwood Town, who he represented during the back end of a playing career that started at Everton before he spent 10 years with Blackpool, who he helped win promotion to the Premier League.
The 45-year-old has been appointed as Fleetwood's new Under-21 lead coach and, after his appointment was confirmed, he said: “I’m really excited and delighted to be here. I’ve already had the chance to meet everybody this morning and it’s been a brilliant welcome.
“I’m looking forward to getting started, working with the players and staff, and helping the young lads develop as both footballers and people.”
Fleetwood academy manager Danny Morville added: “We are delighted to have been able to bring Keith to the club. He brings a wealth of experience as both a player and a coach. His knowledge will be invaluable to our young players as they continue to develop.
“Keith’s commitment to youth development, combined with his understanding of the game, make him an outstanding addition to our Academy and we are confident that he will be integral to the development of players across the Professional Development Phase.
“I look forward to working closely with Keith and seeing the impact he will have on our players and staff.”
It was announced earlier this month that Matthew Taylor, the former Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United defender, had been appointed as Everton's new Under-18s head coach.
A former Walsall and Shrewsbury Town manager, Taylor will be assisted by Blues academy graduate Tom Kearney, who was formerly the club's assistant head of academy coaching.
The changes follow a review of the academy overseen by Everton technical director Nick Cox, supported by academy director Dean Rastrick and academy consultant Neil Dewsnip.
As part of wider changes, the long-serving Paul Tait, like Southern, has also left the club, with the Under-21s now being led by Dave Hughes in a new role as the club's head of academy player development.
Tom Curtis, who has joined as professional development phase senior coach and head of training, is assisting Hughes with the Under-21s.
Cox said: “We are confident these appointments will help us create an excellent learning environment that is supportive and challenging for both our Under-21s and Under-18s players, as we look to strengthen that pathway into our men’s team.
“Having worked closely with Dean and Neil, who has provided invaluable expertise as part of the process, I am in no doubt that the new roles and structure can fulfil our wider ambitions across the academy of supporting young people to reach their full potential.
“We have assembled an outstanding group of coaching staff who are passionate about developing young people; the group possess a blend of skills and experiences that will complement each other and give us the best chance of unlocking the potential of young players.”
Everton Under-21s lost 1-0 in a friendly at League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town last night (Tuesday).
The Blues' squad included Bristol Rovers starlet Ollie Dewsbury and Harvey Foster, who scored for the first team in the 4-0 win at Dundee on Saturday.