Steve Avory steps down as Charlton Athletic academy director

Charlton Athletic academy director Steve Avory has stepped down after nearly 25 years in the role.

The Addicks have confirmed that he will continue in an advisory role with the League One outfit, who have a proven and impressive track record of bringing young talent through.

Liverpool’s Joe Gomez and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa – both capped by England – are just two examples of the success enjoyed by the South London club during his lengthy tenure. Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman is another player that emerged through the set-up to go on and play at the top level in European football and for Nigeria.

“The club’s hierarchy has worked with Avory to put in place a new structure to allow the academy to continue to thrive,” said Charlton in a statement announcing Avory’s decision. “Experienced academy manager Tom Pell, who has worked closely with Avory since joining the club in 2022, will lead the academy moving forwards.

“As part of the new structure a new position is being created with the club shortly to begin recruiting for a senior addition to the academy’s coaching staff.”

Avory said: “I have taken the decision to step away from my day-to-day role. It was an enormously difficult decision to make but I felt that the time was right.

“Through my conversations with Jim Rodwell and Andy Scott, I’m still able to continue at the club in a part-time advisory role, which I am very pleased about.

“I am very proud of the environment that I have contributed to. I have been privileged to lead this academy, in terms of trying to create that pathway with all the various departments here that contribute.

“I feel that at the moment under the current manager Nathan Jones, there is more of a deliberate strategy and process into getting those players into the first-team. I’d like to think that it will continue.”

Addicks chairman Jim Rodwell said: “Steve is a club legend given the work he has done at Charlton across almost 25 years and the quality and quantity of players that have come through our academy during his time here.

“He came to us explaining he thought the time was right to step away from his day-to-day activities and we are delighted we will continue to benefit from his knowledge and expertise as he stays on in an advisory role.

“Given the calibre of Tom Pell and the staff we have in place at the academy, we have been able to put in place a structure to ensure that we continue to be one of the leading academies in the country.”

Charlton technical director Andy Scott added: “It is phenomenal what Steve has done for this club – he has worked tirelessly, showing unbelievable dedication to his job.

“We are very proud that Steve is still a part of the football club as he has represented it so well. When you look back at what any academy manager in the country has achieved, he will be right at the top of the tree for being responsible for leading an academy to produce some such an incredible list of players.

“Tom Pell, who is academy manager now, will have more responsibilities. We are looking at the gap that Steve will be leaving in certain areas, and Tom will be taking over some of those. We will also advertise for a head of player development who will take control of our production line, making sure our young players are being developed in the right way. This individual will work closely with our head of coaching Rhys Williams and professional development phase coaches, putting on sessions to allow players to develop.

“Steve and Tom have overseen a really good improvement over the summer. The standards that the first-team are setting, the academy are following as well. We are really pleased with how the club is from an infrastructure point of view with the recruitment and development of staff as well as the crop of good players we have at the club.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD