Hornets coach links up with Cleverley at Plymouth
Academy coach Matt Bevans has left Watford to follow Tom Cleverley to Plymouth Argyle.
The former Hornets head coach has confirmed his staff after being appointed as the new Pilgrims boss at the end of last week.
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Former Under-18s lead coach Matt Bevans with his assistant Lloyd Doyley. (Image: Alan Cozzi) There is no surprise that Cleverley's former assistant at Vicarage Road Damon Lathrope takes up the same role at Home Park, while Bevans has made the move from Academy coaching to become first-team coach.
Another former Hornets employee Chris Douglas is Argyle's new first-team performance analyst, and they join first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell and goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan in Cleverley's backroom team.
'Damon, Matt and Chris are three people I know well and are all top class in their respective areas,' Cleverley told the Argyle website.
'They know the way I work, I know the way they work, and I am thrilled they have decided to join the exciting project we have here at Argyle.
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'All three have bought into our plans, and the plans of the club, and are really excited to be here in the south west.
'I am pleased to bring them with me so quickly and have them in place ahead of pre-season starting on Friday. The hard work starts now, and we are all looking forward to getting going.'
Bevans' departure is a blow to the Hornets Academy after he enjoyed a great season working alongside assistant Lloyd Doyley at the helm of the Under-18s.
The Hornets youngsters knocked out both Tottenham and Southampton on their way to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, where they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City at Vicarage Road in front of a crowd of more than 3,000.
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They then beat Northern Division winners to reach the Professional Development League Play-Off Final, only to suffer the heartbreak of a 2-1 defeat after extra-time.
That team included Leo Ramirez-Espain, Amar Sanghrajka, Zavier Massiah-Edwards and Amin Nabizada, all whom were involved with the first team last season.
'Matt has an affinity with the club spanning across many years, and when Jimmy [Gilligan] and I recruited Matt for the Under-18s role we knew we had a coach that understood the football club," Academy director Richard Johnson told the Hornets website.
'It is a shame to see Matt leave but he has an opportunity to progress his career and we as an academy wish him nothing but success.
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'He has certainly left the group in a great place, with the standards and work ethic that Matt and Lloyd [Doyley] have put in place.
'With the addition of the new first-year scholars coming into the building, I'm sure we will push on and be just as competitive this coming season.
'I will be having discussions internally regarding Matt's replacement and will provide more information in due course.'
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