Birmingham City have confirmed the appointment of Scott Sellars as their new Senior Pathway to Professional and Under-21s Coach, entrusting the former Wolves and Al Jazira sporting director to lead the club’s second string into their second Premier League 2 season.
Sellars Takes the Helm After Mark Kennedy’s Departure
Blues’ under-21s have been without a head coach since midway through last season when Mark Kennedy left his post. Danny Barham, who had been assisting Kennedy, led the team in the final months of the campaign. Sellars now steps into the role, bringing a wealth of experience from top-level academy football.
After being awarded Category One status last season, the U21s found the going tough in Premier League 2, finishing 27th in a table of 29 teams. The club recently lost Aurelien Guernier, one of the stars of the U21s, who quit his boyhood club to join AC Milan.
Proven Track Record in Youth Development
Sellars is no stranger to Premier League 2, having led Wolves’ U21s for four years before stepping up to academy manager in 2018 and later technical director in 2021. During his time as academy chief, a Wolves U21 side that included ex-Blues captain Dion Sanderson won Premier League 2 Division 2 before it became one big league.
The 60-year-old hasn’t officially held a coaching role since 2018, but he was renowned as one of the leading youth coaches in the country at Manchester City, where he led the youth team from 2009 to 2014. Blues’ academy technical director Mike Rigg was Director of Football at The Etihad during that period, and Sellars succeeded Rigg as sporting director at Al Jazira when he joined Blues two years ago. Sellars will now work under Rigg again at Blues.
Rigg Hails Appointment as Key to Player Development
Rigg said: "Scott's appointment represents an important step in revolutionising our player development pathway. He brings an exceptional blend of coaching expertise, leadership experience and a proven understanding of how to develop players for the demands of professional football. Throughout his career he has worked at the highest levels of academy football, with Manchester City and most recently with Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping to build environments where young players can thrive. His experience leading under-21 programmes and creating clear development pathways makes him an outstanding addition to our academy structure. We are delighted to welcome him to the club and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our academy staff and players."
Sellars’ Playing Career
Blues’ newest academy coach played for the likes of Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers during his 20-year playing career. His appointment signals Birmingham City’s commitment to strengthening their academy pathway and improving the U21s’ performance in Premier League 2.
