WHARTON TO SUCCEED IRVINE AS ACADEMY DIRECTOR Newcastle United announced today that Kenny Wharton, who has fulfilled the role of Assistant Academy Director at Newcastle United since 1999, has been promoted to the position of Academy Director, taking over from Alan Irvine who has left the Club to join Everton as Assistant Manager to David Moyes. Wharton, 41, who had a distinguished playing career at St. James' Park between 1978 - 89 where he made 335 appearances, mainly in the left back/left midfield role, scoring 27 goals. He spent his early days in coaching working at Middlesbrough's Academy before returning home to Newcastle in 1999.

Kenny has been an integral part of the Academy set-up under Alan Irvine where his prime responsibility, other than as assistant to Alan, has been to coach the Academy Under 19 teams.

As a result of Kenny's elevation to Academy Director, Peter Beardsley has been offered the post of Assistant Academy Director, the position Kenny previously held within the Academy Department.

Kenny's main priority will be to build on the success the Academy has enjoyed in recent years, both in terms of developing players for the first team, and in reaching two successive Under 17 Play Off Finals, Monday night's 5 - 2 aggregate success over Manchester United typifying the tremendous strides the Academy has made.

Next season the Academy moves to its new 90 acre purpose built facilities at Little Benton in Newcastle upon Tyne, a training complex they will share with United's first team squad.

A delighted Wharton said:

"It is a real privilege to be appointed to this most important of posts at Newcastle United. Right from the day I walked through the gates at St. James' Park as a young lad, my heart has always been in the Club and I look forward to continuing the proud tradition of our Academy next season and beyond.

"I must pay tribute to the work Alan has done in recent years to establish our Academy as one of the best in the land. Now it is my aim with the rest of the staff, to build on what we have already achieved.

"The region is a hotbed of football, and we must make every effort to capitalise on that and make sure Newcastle United remains the only Club they want to sign for. In recently signing a player of the quality of Steven Taylor, we are capable of doing just that."

And United's Chief Operating Officer Russell Cushing added:

"We are very pleased with the appointment we have made. Kenny has shown us in the past couple of years that he is capable of making the step up to Academy Director and we wish him the very best in his new role.

"In doing so we place on record our very grateful thanks to the job Alan Irvine has done at the Club and wish him a successful career at Goodison Park."

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2002

Answers

A former Player

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2002

A good decision it seems to me.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2002