We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Joe Monks as the club’s new Head of Emerging Talent.
This important new role will see Joe oversee our Emerging Talent group, consisting of players between the ages of 16-20 that have been identified as a future first-team player; acting as the bridge between the academy and the first-team.
The appointment of Monks in this role comes as part of our continued commitment to investing in and growing the academy – a fundamental part of the club’s long-term plan for sustained growth, as we look to produce our own homegrown talent, ready for the first-team.
Joe brings with him over ten years of experience in the scouting and development of young players, and a strong reputation in the game having worked for clubs such as Southampton, Norwich, Wolves, and Barnet during their time in League Two.
After four years as Head of Senior Recruitment at Colchester United, he was appointed Football Operations Manager at South Shields last season – helping the ambitious north-east side earn promotion to the National League North.
Taking up his new position, the 31-year-old will lead the Emerging Talent section going forward, overseeing the progression of the B-team which was formed last season, and creating the best possible development programs for each of our Emerging Talents prospects.
We’d like to welcome Joe to the club, and look forward to his contribution towards an exciting future at Edgeley Park.
Upon taking up his new role, Joe Monks said:
‘The club has risen rapidly towards new heights under Mark Stott’s stewardship, and this is a project I cannot wait to become a part of. The work that Simon and the team have done at County so far has been excellent. With the introduction of the B-team starting last season, I will be joining to oversee its development into an established section of the club, and ensure we produce young players who will excite the fans at Edgeley Park.
“It is a great project for me personally and I will be leading the Emerging Talent section, identifying and developing the players alongside Damien Allen, Jonathan Smith, Dave Conlon and of course, Simon and the Gaffer.
“We already have some talented young players at the club who will develop alongside future signings, and it will be my responsibility to ensure we have the correct development plan for each young man. This could be external loans or opportunities within the club’s B-team. Each player will have a different pathway, but it is crucial that we as a club build our own young talents for the future.
“This is a new section within the club which continues to build on its recent success. I am delighted to be part of such an exciting football club and look forward to building the infrastructure so we can showcase some excellent young talents to the fans in the coming years.”
