As part of the ongoing academy revamp at Thorp Arch, Leeds United has recruited Liverpool’s coaching chief Martin Diggle. Diggle is set to be named United’s new academy manager and start work in the coming weeks. As first reported by Training Ground Guru, Adam Underwood made the appointment following his own promotion last July. The long-time academy director has been promoted to head of football operations, allowing a new face to handle the youth divisions on a daily basis. Since July 2019, Diggle has served as Liverpool’s head of coach development, overseeing operations at the club’s Kirkby training facility. According to the Premier League giant’s website, Diggle is a UEFA A and Advanced Youth Award coach and tutor with over 15 years of experience in football development. After commencing his coaching career at Bolton Wanderers, he went on to become a lecturer in sports coaching at Leeds Beckett University, where he had previously earned a master’s degree. Diggle spent nearly nine years at The Football Association, where he rose to oversee all professional game coach development for the regulatory body. Diggle will report to Underwood at Thorp Arch, after Jordan Miles’ recent appointment as head of recruitment, who works in a similar capacity for Gretar Steinsson. Scott Gardner was another recent addition to the Whites’ roster, being named permanent under-21s head coach last month.
