Arsenal have completed their summer reshuffle of the coaching staff this week, with the appointment of Pat Holland as the club’s new Under-18’s coach.
After Steve Bould and Neil Banfield were promoted to first-team coaching duty at the end of the season, Arsenal have been looking for experience to fill the voids of reserves and Under-18’s head coaches.
Former Gunner Terry Burton has arrived to work with the reserves, and after a protracted search, I’m told 61-year-old West Ham legend Holland will take charge of the academy team. He has already met the players.
London-born Holland brings with him a wealth of experience. He played 245 times for West Ham between 1969 and 1981, and apart from a brief loan period at Bournemouth, he was a one club man.
In terms of coaching, Holland has experience at both youth and first-team level. He has worked as a youth team coach at Tottenham, but also enjoyed a spell as manager of Leyton Orient.
In recent years, Holland has been working as a chief scout. He spent many years working for Championship side Millwall, before helping MK Dons’ rise as a trusted member of Roberto Di Matteo’s recruitment team.
I’m told Holland is already proving to be a popular figure around the club, and is expected to take charge of Saturday’s academy league opener against Bolton.
Blimey, Patsy Holland, who’d have thought it? I remember him playing the Cup Final in ’75 (gotta feeling he might have assisted or been involved in the build-up to one of Alan Taylor’s goals) and the following year’s Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Haven’t heard of him since- and now he’s a gunner. Good luck to him.
Thought they would have promote Steve Gatting up to the Under-18’s.
Anymore on kyle bartley loan move to swansea
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/08/16/swansea-city-sign-arsenal-defender-kyle-bartley-91466-31640511/
No loan move, permanent transfer for £1M