Richard Walker has been appointed the permanent head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers under-21 team. The move secures continuity in the academy, with Walker now steering the final development stage for the club's young prospects.

He previously led the under-18 side and took charge of the under-21 group during the recent pre-season period. Walker has worked within the Wolves Academy for three years, having joined from Stoke City in the summer of 2023. Before that, he spent 14 years coaching in Stoke’s youth system, with eight of those years across their under-18 and under-21 groups.

Academy director Jonathan Hunter-Barrett said the appointment was made with a clear focus on player progression. "We feel he possesses the right skills and experience to take us forward in the under-21s environment," Hunter-Barrett stated. He also described Walker as "a strong leader and he’s very consistent in the way he behaves and works."

Academy reshuffle

Walker’s promotion leaves the under-18 head coach position vacant, and the academy is now recruiting for that role. In the interim, Karl Broadhurst, a former AFC Bournemouth defender and the current under-16 lead coach, will step up to act as interim under-18 coach. The primary success metric for Walker’s new under-21s role will be individual player development rather than competition results.

Christian Preusser, the head of academy coaching, will collaborate closely with Walker to monitor the progress of players as they move towards the first-team environment. The appointment comes as the senior side enjoys a positive spell, having beaten Sheffield United 1-0 last weekend thanks to a late Raúl Jiménez goal in the 90th minute. The win is part of a recent form that has seen Wolves win three of their last five Premier League matches.

Walker is a former defender who played for Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale, captaining Crewe during his time at Gresty Road. Born in Stafford, his deep understanding of the local and club landscape is seen as a key asset in his new position. With several players currently sidelined, including Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Yerson Mosquera, the pathway from the under-21s remains an important focus for the club. Fans can view the full senior squad list and check the latest injuries updates on the site.

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