WANDERERS are preparing to announce significant changes at the Lostock academy in the coming days.

Several months after it was first confirmed to The Bolton News that the club was downgrading its academy status and launching a wide-ranging review of the football department, exact details of staffing duties and plans for the future of the youth section are now ready to be published.

The process has been delayed significantly by the effects of the pandemic and by the fact several members of staff were placed extended furlough leave during uncertain times for the sport.

It is widely documented that stepping down to a category three academy meant the club would no longer be operating an Under-23s team in the Professional Development League and would be without ‘competitive’ second string football for the first time in nearly a century.

Wanderers explained earlier this year that they planned to fast-track players from Under-18s football into the first team environment and that moving to category three would not impact on the amount of coaching young players would receive.

But detail on exactly what would be changing has remained vague – owing largely to the unpredictable pandemic environment in which the club has been operating in the last nine months.

Wanderers have had a core of former players on the coaching side at Lostock, many of whom have been with the club for several years.

David Lee was in charge of the development squad last season, assisted by former academy director Jimmy Phillips. Nicky Spooner oversaw the Under-18s, assisted by Gavin McCann.

Wanderers announced in July that Phillips was stepping down from the role he had held since 2008.

Respected former head of academy recruitment, Brian Morris, also confirmed his exit from the club at the end of last month on social media.

It was also revealed in August that Mark Litherland would take over as academy manager, having previously held a similar post at Bury.

Litherland has been coaching the Under-18s since they returned in the summer to compete in the Youth Alliance League, where the team currently sits ninth in the table with 12 points from their first 10 games.