Finn Harps seek a new Head of Academy to maintain pathway and go to ‘next level’

Kevin McHugh says that the new Head of Academy at Finn Harps will be going into a “rewarding” role.

McHugh maintained his position as the Head of Academy after being appointed as first team manager earlier this year.

Now, however, the Killea man is set to solely focus on his first team duties with Harps hunting a new Head of Academy.

McHugh believes that the recent success stories from the underage ranks at Finn Park make the position an attractive one with the club ideally seeking someone based in the northwest who can continue on the upward trajectory of recent seasons.

This year alone, seven players from the Harps Academy have gained international recognition.

Gavin McAteer, Josh Cullen and Corey Sheridan - all members of the Harps first team - recently played for the Republic of Ireland U17s and will be hoping to make it onto the squad for the World Cup in Qatar later this year. 

Oisin Cooney played for the Irish U19s and recently secured a move to Premier League outfit Burnley and Harps games are regularly watched now by scouts from cross-channel clubs.

Odhran McHugh - son of the harps manager - has played for Northern Ireland U16s, scoring a hat-trick against Gibraltar last month and Lukas Doherty has played in the same NI team while Kyra Gavigan played for the Republic of Ireland schools team.

“When I took over as head coach, I stayed on with the academy because it was such an important role at the club with the direction we’re going; it was important that I stayed to finish out that role,” McHugh said. 

“The whole club direction and the importance of the academy, out was important to stay to see that out. We were working on loads of things. It would have been very difficult for someone to come in during the middle of all that.”

McHugh, who scored 186 goals in 438 appearances for Harps as a player, initially took over as head coach of the Harps U15s and later was appointed as Head of Academy.

He said: “I have enjoyed thoroughly watching the development every year.

“It is at a stage now here it can go on a gear or two and can go to another level. 

“We have taken it so far and now we want it to go again. Ten years of workload has gone into the academy to get it to where it is today.

“The biggest plus for whoever comes in is that the pathway is there. We have a functioning academy system and we just need someone to come in now and take it to the next level.”

Candidates are required tor have a UEFA Elite Youth A Licence or to have a UEFA A Licence with a commitment to complete the Elite Youth A badge.

Previous experience in a similar role is said to be ‘desirable’ and applicants are asked to sent a footballing cv to headofacademy@finnharps.ie

McHugh said:  “It is hugely important that the person coming in resides in the north west, has a background in football and has the relevant qualifications. 

“The qualifications aren’t the main thing because we can always educate people, but you have to have the minimum qualifications. Ideally, we’d like someone who has worked in grassroots, worked in League of Ireland and has covered all bases. 

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“It is a huge role in the football club and it is a brilliant role for somebody out there, whether it’s someone at a Donegal League club, or anywhere in junior football. It’s a fantastic role to oversee the development of the best players in the northwest. 

“Our pathway, unlike other clubs around us, goes to the first team. The best players will get a chance and we intend to keep that pathway continuing.”

As first team manager, McHugh says he will continue to workload closely with the Head of Academy and the various coaches within the academy set-up.

He added: “It’s a fantastic job to have. There are huge responsibilities, but the rewards are brilliant.”