James Baxter

Professional development phase coach

James Baxter became Albion’s under-18 professional development phase coach in January 2020, working alongside Mark Beard.

He joined Albion in 2012 as a lead foundation phase coach working with under-7s up to under-12s, before working his way up through the age groups in the academy.

Having coached with Southampton for eight-years, he spent six months at Portsmouth, joining the Albion academy from there.

Baxter holds a UEFA A licence, as well as a degree in Coaching for Performance in Football.

Following the departure of Beard to Stockport County, Baxter led the under-18s for the first half of the 2021/22 season, before Gary Dicker became joint coach in January 2022.

Gary Dicker

Professional development phase coach

Gary Dicker returned to the club in July 2021 as over-age player in the under-23 squad, before calling time on his playing career and beginning work with the under-18s in January 2022.

The 35-year-old midfielder made more than 150 appearances for Albion after joining in March 2009 from Stockport County. He made the move permanent in July 2009 and spent the next four seasons with the club.

After spells with Rochdale, Crawley Town and Carlisle, Dicker joined Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock in 2016, making more than 150 appearances and coaching the reserve team for four years before he was released at the end of last season.