SAINTS have announced the appointment of Swansea City’s Andy Goldie as the club’s new academy director.

Goldie has worked as academy manager in South Wales since August 2022, building a strong reputation in the game for developing young talent.

He started his career coaching in the academies of Hamilton Academical and Dundee, before spending seven years as an elite performance coach for the Scottish FA.  

His first role as an academy director was back at Dundee, who he rejoined in 2019, playing a key role in helping to establish their reputation as a side built upon academy talent, with the Tangerines fielding the most academy players in the SPL during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Goldie will start work at Staplewood on July 3, working under Jason Wilcox, and will be responsible for the leadership, strategy and productivity of the club’s youth development programme from under-7s to under-21s, with the aim of nurturing and developing talented players on the pathway to the men’s first team.

Goldie replaces former academy director Matt Hale, who departed the club at the end of last season and has since taken on a role at League One Derby County.

Following his departure from Swansea, Goldie said: "Thank you to everyone at Swansea City, in particular all the academy staff for their support and hard work over the past season, and to Julian Winter for providing me with the opportunity to work at this magnificent club. 

"The people who live and breath Swansea City will continue to be the backbone of the academy’s success, and with real support and recognition of their hard work and loyalty they, along with some other incredibly talented staff, will help return the club to where it should be. 

"Now it’s onto the next challenge for me professionally and the next adventure for us as a family."

Swansea's statement read: "The club would like to thank Andy for his work during his time at the club and wish him well for the future."