Crystal Palace have appointed former Brighton manager Dean Wilkins as head of coaching within the academy.
The Eagles announced three new appointments to their academy staff on Friday, with former youth player Michael Kamara taking up a new role as head of player/parent communications, as well as working with their U-10s.
Meanwhile Sam Higgins, who has worked with Swansea and Cardiff previously, will head up sports science within the academy. Wilkins, however, is the real coup for the Palace academy.
"Dean brings us massive experience with what he's done in the game,” said academy director, Gary Issott.
“He's been an assistant manager in the Premier League, he's been a manager at Brighton & Hove Albion. The experience he's going to pass on to the coaches is going to be invaluable.
“That's what his role is going to be: to try and implement the club's playing style and philosophy and allow the coaches to implement that into our play. It's huge for us to get someone of his quality."
As well as managing Brighton, Wilkins played a key role in the coaching staff at Southampton during their rise from League One to the Premier League. He has also held posts at Fulham, Reading and Sheffield United.
