Fulham ex-player and coach Paul Bracewell is to be announced by the Football Association as one of the new national coaches to work with England youth teams from the ages of 16 to 21. The appointments are designed both to produce continuity and, possibly, find the future coach of the senior national side.
Bracewell 39, has managed Fulham and Halifax, is a former England international and a member of the Everton team who won the League championship and European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1985.
Also joining the staff under technical director Howard Wilkinson is Stuart Baxter, Alan Irvine, John McDermott, and John Peacock. With John Allpress responsible for the co-ordination of seven to 14-year-olds, the coaching set-up is up to six.
"This is part of the long-term strategy that I introduced as part of the original charter for the future of the game," said Wilkinson. "The new team includes three former academy directors, while Stuart has the experience from coaching in several countries abroad, and Paul, who has shown already that he will be an asset, has a very broad playing experience at the highest level, including his country.
"He is a very keen student of the game and, already, he has been devouring information."
While not suggesting that Bracewell is being earmarked as a future senior England coach, the FA have watched the progress of the likes of Andy Roxburgh, Berti Vogts, Gerard Houllier and Roger Lemerre, all of whom have coached at every level with their respective countries.
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