Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Manchester United academy coach Simon Wiles(Image: Simon Wiles, LinkedIn)

Liverpool are closing in on the appointment of Manchester United academy coach Simon Wiles as their new Under-18s head coach.

The Reds have been on the lookout for a replacement for the long-serving Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who stepped down from his post at the end of last season and has since joined the first-team coaching staff at Huddersfield Town.

The managerless Under-18s started their pre-season campaign on Saturday with an emphatic thrashing Welsh outfit Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Under-18s assistant coach Anthony Ryan, who has been promoted from his role with the Under-15s, took charge for last weekend’s match in Kirkby.

READ MORE:Darwin Nunez might have new transfer option after Napoli end interest in Liverpool strikerREAD MORE:Liverpool locked in transfer talks for 50-goal wonderkid also wanted by Man City and Arsenal

Goals from Joe Bradshaw, Lenix Conde, Lucas Clark, Josh Sonni-Lambie, Josh Abe and Haydn Murray-Holme clinched a 6-1 win for the hosts.

And it is now looking likely that Ryan will be joined in the dugout by Wiles.

Liverpool are advancing on a move for the 40-year-old to take over as Under-18s head coach, as first reported by the Athletic, calling time on his time in the Red Devils academy set-up after less than a year.

While a deal is not done yet, there is a confidence that Wiles will be named as Bridge-Wilkinson’s successor.

He only joined Man United as Lead Academy coach of their Under-14 side last September, having left his role as first-team coach with League Two Salford City to make the switch to Old Trafford.

He had previously also briefly served as caretaker manager at Salford following the sacking of Neil Wood in December 2023.

Prior to joining Salford, the former Blackpool midfielder spent four years with Fleetwood Town as Under-18s manager.

He also enjoyed a stint as first-team interim manager following the sacking of Joey Barton in January 2021.

Wiles has also spent time as an academy coach at former club, Blackpool, and both first-team coach and assistant manager at non-league side Bamber Bridge.

As well as starting his senior playing career with Blackpool, he also spent time with Macclesfield Town, Dunfermline Athletic, Barrow and Salford before his career was cut short by injury.

Article continues below

Wiles would follow former Wales manager Rob Page in taking a head coach role at Liverpool’s academy.

Page was named as the long-serving Barry Lewtas’ successor as Under-21s head coach earlier this summer.


For more news relating to Arsenal, visit our sister site AFC Latest Live.