Shamrock Rovers Football has restructured its Academy setup and recruited Simon Friel as Director of Academy Operations.

Friel joins from Carlisle United where he held the role of Academy Manager and was central to Carlisle United maintaining their status as a Category 3 Academy, having implemented the standards as set out by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) in England.

In the absence yet of any equivalent standards in the League of Ireland, the club will look to implement a similar approach over the coming season.

The Academy strategic review also sees Aidan Price undertaking the role of Director of Academy Coaching working directly alongside Friel.

Price has a strong history with the club having won both First Division and Premier Division titles and has worked within the Academy since 2016 in a variety of roles. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence and is currently a participant in the European Club Association (ECA) Academy Manager program.

Both roles will report to club CEO, John Martin.

“The restructure of the Academy is an acknowledgment that the scope of the operation has grown significantly since it was first launched,” said Martin.

“Throughout the recruitment process, it became clear that a restructure was the optimal solution for the club. Through our junior development academy, DDSL sections, Partner and Affiliate clubs, National League teams, Education / S&C / Performance Analysis Departments, and facilities management in Roadstone, the club has grown exponentially.”

“The new structure will allow for a greater focus on all areas within the Academy as we look to continually improve into the future.”

Shamrock Rovers took in significant private investment from Dermot Desmond in recent years but remains a stand-alone club without ties to other clubs in other leagues as part of a multi-club model.

The development of its own talent is, therefore, an important part of its sustainability planning.

 

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