ALDERSHOT Town’s youth department will next season expand to include a new U17-U19 section, with all players from U9 under the leadership of Gary Waddock and James Rowe.

The new section will replace the Knights Group Sports Academy, who have worked with the club for four seasons, to establish a direct pathway from pre-academy level to first team.

Formation of the new structure has been overseen by the first-team management duo of Waddock and Rowe to ensure that all age groups are given the best possible opportunity to progress to senior levels. In this, the club intend to continue the work started by head of youth Sam Waters, who is leaving the club. Aldershot have thanked both him and Knights Group Sports for their work.

Current academy coach Lee Collier will remain with the Shots to manage the new older section.

“I’m delighted that James and I will be involved in the new youth department,” said Gary Waddock. “It is fantastic news that the club has brought all age groups under its own remit and will again have a full complement of youth teams from under-9. All coaches will report to us and we will have a direct input to the under-17 to under-19 age groups.”

The U9-U12 Foundation level is headed by Ryan Nevard, who will continue to develop the pre-academy sides and also act as the club’s community officer, while Stephen Mills will oversee the U13-U16 youth development phase as well as coaching the U16 side himself.

All three stages will come under the directorship of first-team management staff to ensure that their coaching and training philosophy is implemented throughout the club.

Together with expanded staffing levels, Aldershot Town hope to have one of th best youth development programmes in the south.