Swindon have confirmed that they have appointed Mark Moss as the new Academy Manager, following the departure of Alex Pike.

The former Gillingham youth team manager will start his new role on November 4th after Pike left the Robins take up a new role elsewhere.

Under Pike, Town’s U18s side made a historic run in the FA Youth cup last season, most notably beating Manchester United in the fourth round.

Moss has a lot of experience in youth football having previously worked at Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Southend United and Gillingham before taking on his new role of Academy Manager in Wiltshire.

Speaking about his new role, Moss said: "The Club's values and my own are very much aligned in that we want to give young people an environment where they can thrive, both, on the pitch to prepare them for a football career, and off the pitch where we can give them the tools to become good people. 

"On the pitch one of the most exciting things for the football club staff and fans is to see homegrown players come through the system and make their debuts in the first team.

“For me, the aim is not just to bring players through into the first team, but to bring through players that can improve the first team. 

With this appointment, there has also been a change in structure as Head of Education Kirk McGinn will now be the Assistant Academy Manager.

The Robins have also found out their first round opponents in the FA Youth Cup, hosting Newport County with the tie scheduled to be played by Saturday the 2nd of November.