Liverpool Set to Recruit Highly Rated Youth Coach

Crewe Alexandra academy coach Neil Critchley is set to become the new Liverpool Under-18 manager after being approached by the Premier League giants.

Critchley has been credited with the development of the likes of Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood and Luke Murphy, who have joined Manchester United, Aston Villa and Leeds United respectively in the last year.

Davis showed the true worth of the club's academy by fielding an entire XI made up of home-grown players for the final game of the 2012/13 season against Walsall, a youth system which was initially developed by director of football Dario Gradi.

And Davis, rather than be disappointed at losing Critchley, is delighted to have a member of his staff recognised by one of the biggest clubs in the world in Liverpool

"It looks like Neil is moving on to Liverpool under 18s, he told me he had been approached," Davis said. "I imagine he is considering a fantastic offer and opportunity to go to Liverpool.

"He will be a great loss to us because he is a great lad, and a great servant to the club. He has done a brilliant job with the young players who have come through. I've a lot of time and respect for Neil and we all wish him well.

"It is not a negative thing, it is a real positive that one of our bright young coaches is considered by Brendan Rodgers.

"You look at our record, what we have produced and what we have sold over the past year, three top players, and that is all down to the standard of the coaches.

"That's why we are the academy we are, we have a lot of fantastic coaches, a lot of ex-players. Neil has been very loyal and been developed himself. That doesn't go unnoticed, if a club is selling players for millions of pounds there is a reason for that. There is obviously some quality people involved in that process and Neil is one of them.

"For him to get noticed by one of the top clubs in the country is of great benefit to us, it shows where the academy is."

During the back end of Critchley's playing career he began taking his FA and UEFA A coaching badges, laying the foundations to be a success at his former club at Gresty Road.

Rodgers gave many youngsters their break through in the Liverpool first-team last season with Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom, Jordon Ibe and Suso among the players to benefit from the Northern Irishman's faith in Liverpool's youth system.