Millers appoint first team/development coach...
Rotherham United have confirmed the appointment of Andy Hughes as the club’s first team/development coach.
The former Reading, Norwich City and Leeds United player has joined the Millers from fellow Sky Bet Championship side Bolton Wanderers where he was professional development coach.
Hughes will play a major role for the Millers in helping bridge the transition of players coming out of the club’s Academy into the first team environment.
“I have been lucky enough to have worked as an academy coach with the under 21s at Bolton, but the opportunity arose to come here and create something which is very exciting,” Hughes told www.themillers.co.uk
“I am honoured to have been chosen for the role, and to have the opportunity to help put in place a structure which will help the club develop some exciting talent.
“The role here will see me working closely with both the Academy and first team, and we’ll be creating a group of players which will be like a shadow squad. It is an exciting project and it is a challenge that I am really looking forward to.”
Hughes, who was a player at Elland Road during current boss Neil Redfearn’s stint as Academy manager, enjoyed a long playing career predominantly as a midfielder. He moved into coaching for the first time with Bolton where he was joint caretaker manager for one game before the arrival of Neil Lennon.
“The manager here has a proven track record of bringing players from the Academy into the first team,” Hughes added.
“He is willing to give young players an opportunity, and the structure he is looking to put in place here will help that pathway.
“I really enjoyed my time at Bolton and working under Neil Lennon. He is similar in the sense that he buys into the youth system; they are both very passionate about bringing players through into the first team.
“It is important for the young lads that they can see a pathway into the first team, and then when they get there they need to be prepared. It is important that they mix with the senior players because you need to them to help develop the youngsters, so being able to work with both and bring the two together is something that I am looking forward too.”