Coventry City Academy Chief Richard Stevens has said that new coach Jamie Clapham will be good for the Sky Blues.
Speaking to Coventry Telegraph's Andy Turner about Clapham, Stevens said: “The players will enjoy him because he has a wonderful personality and he understands what it takes to be a young player and crossing the line into the first team.
“I think he’ll be a massive help to me personally as Academy manager because I already have a very good relationship with him. And hopefully it will allow us to work really closely together from the manager at the top to the bottom of the Academy.
“I think Jamie will be really good for the club and the players will like him. The young players will certainly like him because he takes time to help develop young players.”
Stevens knows Clapham, who will start his CCFC duties next week from their days at Birmingham City and added:
“I was a young coach at Birmingham City Academy and Jamie was a left-back in the first team,” said Stevens.
“And because it was a tight-knit training ground you got to know everyone.
“Jamie was one of those who always had time for a chat and wanted to know about all the young lads coming through. He had an opinion on youth, even back then.
“He later became a young coach at Middlesbrough and 18 months ago I started a level five course with the FA which sits in line with the Pro Licence and he was on the same course.
“Over the last 18-months we’ve met up every ten to six weeks for a day, three days or five days working through the modules of the course, so I have spent a lot of time with Jamie.
“He’s a real thinker of the game and has an understanding of youth development because that’s where he’s coming from but, at the same time, because he’s worked at the top end he’s got those first team coaching traits as well.”
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