According to West London Sport ex-Wales international Glyn Hodges has been appointed head of youth coaching, he will work with Gallen and Bircham
QPR have appointed Glyn Hodges as the head of a revamped youth and development structure at Loftus Road. Hodges was a Wales team-mate of Mark Hughes and part of the Rangers manager’s coaching staff at Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham. The 49-year-old, whose playing career included spells with Wimbledon and Sheffield United, will work alongside Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham. Youth development manager Gallen has played an increasingly pitoval role at the club in recent years, while former R’s midfielder Bircham is likely to be involved with the reserves as well as a planned Under-21 team for next season. Hodges had two spells as caretaker manager of Barnsley and has also coached at Leeds. His arrival is part of a series of changes to QPR’s youth system, which is expected to be given category-two status for the coming season, when all clubs will have academies graded from one to four. Rangers’ current Centre of Excellence is the equivalent of a category three set-up.
I have to say, that reading between the lines, things are looking very, very positive. Forget about branded planes and stuff, it's brilliant when you hear that: We have appointed a new Chief Scout, fresh from Man city, and who likens our set-up to theirs and speaks so highly of the bosses; We have plans for a new training ground documented and submitted in such detail We have plans to re-introduce an U21 team We're looking at the potential of a new ground, but have received explicit assurance that it will be in the borough and will be built to replicate the atmosphere within LR Every news conference and press release includes the words 'long-term', 'stability', 'future' and the like. Is it just me, or do we all really get a good feeling about the months and years to come?
Absolutely, we are building for the future, the sensible way. What we need..(.us fans) is a sense of perspective...and a little patience. Mid season mediocrity and small cup run next season...would be a triumph and a consolidation
