Wanderers are thrilled to announce the signing of Andy Taylor, a former Championship defender and AFC Fylde assistant manager, as their new B Team Head Coach.
Taylor replaces Matty Craddock, who was promoted to First Team Coach earlier this season, and will head the B Team with Andrew Tutte as his assistant.
The 37-year-old, who played more than 350 appearances for Sheffield United, Blackpool, Walsall, and Tranmere Rovers, was also in the running to join the Whites’ senior coaching staff when Sam Hird left in October.
He has stayed on Wanderers’ radar since, and with an exceptional coaching resume and a strong foundation in player development, he is regarded as the ideal candidate for the vital post of Head Coach of the B Team.
Chris Markham, Wanderers’ Sporting Director, stated: “Andy has all of the qualifications we were seeking for and is an essential appointment at this stage of the B Team initiative.
“Andy went a long way in the process we had in place when Matty was appointed, and if he didn’t join the first-team setup at the time, we soon identified him as a really good possibility for the B Team.
“His attitude and history demonstrate a high level of tactical detail, which is critical for the way we want to play, and he’s the right guy to pass that on to the young players to help them improve.
“We wanted someone who is modern in their approach and will expand on the outstanding work that is being done at the B Team office in terms of coaching, analysis, and sport science.
“He has the right personality to fit in.” He was dedicated about player development and assisting younger players throughout his interview, as evidenced by the great comments we received from Nelson Khumbeni and Max Conway during their time working under him.
“Andy is also someone who will collaborate closely with Tutty, which was vital to us in continuing his outstanding improvement and development since joining the coaching team as we want to establish a pathway for both players and staff.
“There’s been a lot of progress within the B Team, such as Luke Matheson’s promotion to the first-team squad, the number of players out on loan at high levels, and some of the results we’ve had this season against Category 1 Academy teams, demonstrating how important this project is to us.”
“It’s less than two years in, but it’s trending in the right way and this is another key appointment to continue that.”
