Adam Lawrence has quit as the Magpies' Under-21s chief after just five months
Newcastle United U21 manager Adam Lawrence
Newcastle United U21 manager Adam Lawrence(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
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Newcastle United have been shocked by the decision of Adam Lawrence to step down from his role as lead coach of the club's Under-21s.
Lawrence took charge of the Magpies' under-21 side in September 2025, joining the Magpies' Academy from Manchester United, where he was lead coach for the club's under-18s side.
He was in charge of the side on Friday night when they lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough. That was the latest in a string of disappointing results for the team.
Newcastle released a statement confirming that Lawrence had decided to quit the club.
Academy Director Steve Harper said: "I'd like to thank Adam for his time with us leading the Under-21 group. We wish him the best of luck as he pursues the next step in his coaching career."
Robbie Stockdale will take interim charge of United's under-21s while the process of recruiting a new lead coach takes place.
Stockdale, the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough coach, joined Newcastle in February 2024 as an assistant to then U21s lead coach Diarmuid O'Carroll.
O’Carroll left the Magpies in the summer to join Czech First League side Sparta Prague as a first team coach, following in the footsteps of Ben Dawson and Graeme Carrick who also progressed from roles with Newcastle United’s Academy to secure senior first team coaching positions.
A recruitment process took place with Lawrence eventually appointed and moving from Man United, where he had helped oversee the development of the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Amass.
Speaking after the defeat against Boro on Friday, he said: "It felt like a 0-0 game and to be honest our feeling around the game would be very similar if it finished 0-0 in terms of you feel the team has been competitive, there’s not been much in the game and tonight we created enough situations to score from but we were found lacking in the final third.
"It’s similar to where we have been lacking of late and it’s just a little bit of confidence, that bit of quality, decision-making in and around the final third has ultimately meant we have finished the game without scoring.”
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