Charlton Athletic appoint new U21 lead coach

Charlton Athletic have appointed Chris Lock as their U21 lead coach.

Lock joined the club’s academy coaching team in 2019 and was assistant to Jason Pearce as the U18s won the Professional Development League 2 – South title this season.

Pearce was promoted to senior professional development phase lead coach yesterday.

Lock said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to go into next season leading our U21s. I am really looking forward to going into that phase, having an opportunity to work with the players there.

“It’s been good working with Jason Pearce. The academy-playing philosophy is quite clear here, so I have been able to adapt quite comfortably from coaching the U16s to coaching the U18s. We [Jason and I] challenge each other in a good way to ensure the best for the players. The fact that he is going to be leading the phase is great so that challenge and working relationship can continue.”

Academy director Steve Avory said: “Chris had been working with our U16s and has done a really good job the past couple of years with that group. He earned the role assisting Jason at U18s level. I’m really pleased with his contributions since that promotion and his appointment to leading the U21s once again highlights the pathway at this club isn’t just for players but for coaches too.

“Sometimes people impress you very early with their leadership qualities and I feel Chris has done that in his time in the academy and he will be ready for this challenge of leading the U21s having worked with so many of them as second-year scholars in this past six months.”