Crofts confirmed as under-23 head coach

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Former midfielder was in interim charge for second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

Bruce Talbot

2021-06-05T08:00:00Z

Andrew Crofts will take permanent charge of the under-23s.

The club are delighted to confirm that Andrew Crofts is to become head coach of our under-23 team.

Crofts stepped in to run the side with Shannon Ruth as interim head coaches in January when Simon Rusk left to take over as manager of Stockport County. The pair guided Albion to a ninth-place finish in Premier League 2.

Crofts, 37, played more than 500 games in his professional career including 125 in two spells with Albion between 2009-12 when he scored 13 goals. He also won 29 senior caps for Wales.

He returned to the club in 2019 to combine a playing role with coaching duties in the under-23s.

Ruth has been promoted to senior professional development coach and will continue to work with Crofts.

Technical director Dan Ashworth said, “We’re delighted that Crofty has accepted this position.

“He is passionate about coaching and developing young players and this is a great opportunity for him.

“Shannon will now have a wider coaching brief having previously worked with our younger goalkeepers and we wish them every success for the future.”