Fulham have confirmed the appointment of Sean Cullen as the club’s academy director.
Cullen, who has been promoted from his role as academy manager to succeed Mike Cave following the latter’s move to Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this season, has been a fixture in Fulham’s category one academy working in various role having switched to football after beginning his career as a history teacher. He managed Fulham’s award-winning partnership with Coombe Boy’s School before moving to Motspur Park as Fulham’s head of education.
Cullen, who worked in concert with Cave and his predecessor Huw Jennings, will take over a portfolio that includes overseeing Fulham’s progress at under 21 and under 18 level as well as the younger age-group sides and the academy’s administration, governance, sports science and player care. His expertise is underlined by his presence on the Premier League’s education advisory board.
Under-21 coach Steve Wigley has also been handed a newly-created position as the academy’s technical director. The former Southampton manager has been a pivotal part of Fulham’s progress to coveted category one academy status and will now lead the academy’s philosophy, coaching and recruitment. Wigley led the Whites’ under-18 side to back-to-back national titles before steering Fulham’s under 23s back to the top flight after being appointed to a new age group role last season.
Jennings, formerly Fulham’s academy director and now the club’s head of football development, said:
“We are delighted to announce Sean and Steve’s promotions. They individually bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, which combined presents an exciting prospect for the future of our academy.”
I’ve noticed there are less young fulham youth players playing for their respective countries, perhaps the standard has dropped,there is’nt anyone really knocking strongly at the door. I know we are in the top division but mike cave has gone to brighton where I’m told they have a few getting game time.I know money talks but it’s odd cave has left after 9 years seems odd.
I’m not sure that the Motspur Park coaches can be held to account for the squad selections of international managers. There are plenty of players in the PL2 side who feature at age-group level for their countries, but given that many footballers are late developers most analysts set little store by that as a metric.
The standard of Fulham’s academy hasn’t dropped – they remain the envy of most of Europe and both the under-18s and the under-21s are playing at the highest level. There has been a shift in ensuring that some of our best talent get access to senior football on loan earlier than they used to, which I think is welcome.