The Liverpool Echo’s Reds correspondent, Connor Dunn, says that Barry Lewtas should replace Neil Critchley as the club’s Under-23 manager, per The Blood Red podcast (March 2nd, 2:50).
What’s he said?
Critchley was named as Blackpool’s new manager on Monday, swapping Anfield for Bloomfield Road.
The Seasiders are currently 13th in League One, 18 points clear of the relegation zone and 13 behind sixth-placed Oxford United in the play-offs.
BBC Sport reports that Blackpool had previously attempted to appoint Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens and Karl Robinson of Oxford United.
However, the club’s owner, Simon Sadler, says that Critchley can “lay down the blueprint for our footballing philosophy”.
And Dunn believes that Lewtas, who is currently the club’s U18 manager, having replaced Steven Gerrard in 2018, should be given the chance to step into Critchley’s previous role.
He said: “I think Barry Lewtas would be the natural step to take. He’s obviously working with the U19s in the UEFA Youth League.
“The club have said that interim staff are going to do it until a permanent appointment is made, but it would make sense for Barry Lewtas to come in next.”
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A clear pathway
This would make complete sense.
Lewtas has done sterling work with Liverpool’s U18s, guiding them to victory in the FA Youth Cup in his first season in charge, beating Manchester City in the final.
Liverpool are also currently second in the northern section of the U18 Premier League, 12 points behind leaders City, while he is also working with the U19s in the UEFA Youth League.
Lewtas has accumulated plenty of experience during his time in Merseyside, having previously managed the U12s and the U16s, per the club’s official website.
Now that Critchley – who managed Liverpool’s senior side in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury Town earlier this season – has left, promoting from within would be the sensible move.
Lewtas, in that case, is the obvious answer.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have to let this man go!