Express & Star

The Wolves way was sold to Scott Sellars

Published
Last updated

Wolves and Manchester City may not have too much in common at the moment, but one similarity has impressed new coach Scott Sellars.

more

The former Blackburn and Newcastle winger made the move to Molineux recently to become the club's new Under-21s head coach.

Sellars is charged with focusing on the 18 to 21-year-old age group and helping them progress to the first team. It is a task he is familiar with after five years at the Etihad Stadium where he became head of academy coaching.

And the 48-year-old, who arrived at the same time as new under-18s coach Rob Edwards, admits both clubs are trying to install a footballing philosophy to run throughout their sides.

"I was impressed at the interview about how the club is trying to be connected through all the levels and that a lot of thought has gone into it," he said.

"It is similar to Manchester City where we had a philosophy and a style of play and a consistency that didn't change from six all the way up to the first team.

"I think it is really important that if you want to do things properly there is that real connection between all levels of the football club.

"There are too many clubs I have been at where there is no communication or relationship between the different departments and, whenever the manager changes, he may bring in a new style of play and change all the players around.

"To be connected really helps the football club and helps continuity, and I can see here a very connected club with a philosophy of how they want to do it.

"It's not separated. It's one club, and that is really helpful.

"You see the first-team players every day at the training ground which we didn't see at Manchester City and everyone has been really friendly since I have been here. It's a really positive environment to work in and improve."

Before joining City, Sellars helped bring through players such as Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton during his time as under-18s manager at Sheffield United.

And Sellars is now relishing a new challenge and continuing along the coaching path, something which always interested him during his own time as a player.

"Some senior players had an influence on me when I was a young player coming through and I always felt I was someone who would watch the younger lads train and pass on some advice if I could," he adds.

"I always wanted to stay in football and just wasn't quite sure whether I wanted to try and stay involved at first-team level or academy.

"I have done a bit of both and I think I am good at developing young players, which is probably my key strength and what I am looking to bring here.

"In terms of football I learned a lot at Man City. I think all clubs are different to Man City and they are a one-off at the moment.

"Man City is a big club which has been transformed by a lot of money but behind all that there are a lot of good business-people who recognise it is not just about football.

"It expanded unbelievably even during the time I was there and there was a lot of good stuff that went on, and other bits I found difficult to deal with.

"I look at Wolves as a club that through all the years I have been involved in academy football, they have always been respected.

"The first team has maybe been up and down but the academy has always been consistent with what it does and with the people as well.

"I have seen what the first team did last year and what they tried to put in place with the younger players that this is a good place to come and work as a coach who wants to develop home-grown players.

"With a lot of young players you never really know how good they are until you give them the opportunity.

"I have seen that in my career at Sheffield United with people like Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton who came through at that time.

"You never really know how they will emerge but they came through and did really well and carried on from there.

"It's the same everywhere, and the hardest thing for young players in this country at the moment is getting the opportunity."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.