Changes are afoot in the Everton academy, with the club looking set to appoint David Hughes as the new U21s manager.
Earlier this week, it was claimed by an Everton insider that Paul Tait has left the club.
There hasn’t yet been official word from Everton about this, but it could well arrive soon. Tait has been at the club for 20 years.
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The same Everton insider had reported that additional academy changes were expected to follow, and now says David Hughes is in talks to take over from Tait as U21 manager.
It has also been suggested that former Portsmouth midfielder Matthew Taylor could also join the Academy set-up.
And amid the potential appointment of Hughes, we bring you all you need to know.
Who is potential new Everton U21 manager David Hughes?
David Hughes was born in Wrexham in 1978, and was a professional player from 1994 to 2003, having spells at Aston Villa, Shrewsbury Town and Cardiff City, before he got into coaching.
He had roles at two clubs he played for, Cardiff and Shrewsbury – for whom he was the Head of Youth – and then one at Watford.
From September 2014, Hughes then got a couple of roles working for the Welsh FA, as the assistant manager of the U17s and the U19s.
A three-year spell at Aston Villa as an academy coach then followed, before he took up the Head of Player Development position at Southampton.
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He then returned to Cardiff City for a few years, before becoming an assistant coach of the Manchester United 21s.
He spent just shy of three years in that role, before he took up his first role as manager of a first-team – at Newport County.
He left that role last December and is seemingly now poised to take the U21s at Everton.
Testimonies for David Hughes
Hughes’ LinkedIn profile reveals some very positive testimonies, including one from Jacob Ramsey who developed to a level that earned him a £40 million transfer to Newcastle United in 2025.
He said: “Dave was my youth team coach. He was always striving for me to perform to the highest possible level I could. He not only guided the team on the pitch but also in lifestyle choices away from the game. For me, he really supported me when I was making the step into the first team.
“Particularly, how to deal with the expectations and how I could continue to learn. I always felt Dave was approachable, and felt comfortable going to him for advice on anything.”
Gus Williams, a former National Talent Pathway Manager for the Welsh FA, added: “His knowledge of the game and of players is second to none. He is not only an asset to any organisation but an inspiration to his peers and players alike.”
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