‘They are trying to unite the club from top to bottom’ – Dyer’s praise for Hurst and Doig

Joint Under-18s managers Adem Atay and Kieron Dyer. Photo: Ross Halls (Image: Archant)

Former England international Dyer, who is now coaching his hometown club’s table-topping Under-18s, has been left mightily impressed by the amount of attention the summer appointments have given the academy during a rocky start.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Chris Doig and the gaffer,” said Dyer, who works alongside Adem Atay at Playford Road. “I’m just praying for them to get the wins because I see how it consumes their lives. It’s 24/7.

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“I’ve worked with other managers in the past who only care about the first team. What I love about Doigy and the gaffer is that they are so involved with the academy.

“Doigy actually comes and helps take some of our Under-18 sessions and you can see the kids absolutely buzzing off it.

“If there’s a home youth game on the Saturday morning and the first team are also at home, they will come and watch the first half before dashing off to the ground.

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“It’s great that they are trying to unite the club as one from top to bottom. I’ve only really seen one manager do that during my time in football and that was George Burley.”

With Hurst having loaned out homegrown players such as Tristan Nydam, Josh Emmnauel, Luke Woolfenden and Ben Morris, Dyer added: “It’s made me laugh when I’ve seen one of the criticisms levelled at them being ‘they aren’t playing the kids’.

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“I kept telling everyone to be patient and that it was only a matter of time. Lo and behold, Andre Dozzell is back in the team, Flynn Downes is very much involved, while Jack Lankester is on the bench and Bailey Clements travelled to Swansea.”

Dozzell and Downes, along with Chelsea loanee Trevoh Chalobah, were all part of the England Under-20 squad which Dyer helped coach at special invite from The FA this week.

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“I’m telling you there are some special players in that group, some absolute gems. I won’t mention names but, wow, I was blown away by the quality of the training. The biggest compliment I can pay Andre and Flynn is that they didn’t look out of place at all.”