The Daily Telegraph has revealed that West Ham assistant Academy director James Rowe has been disciplined by the club following complaints about his treatment of young players.
James Rowe, who works with children as young as nine has been ordered to undertake awareness training following an internal investigation by West Ham, the outcome of which was backed by the Football Association.
The Telegraph claim they received an anonymous letter purporting to be from a parent containing several allegations about the conduct of 31-year-old Rowe, who joined the club from Birmingham following the appointment of Terry Westley as academy director last summer.
A West Ham spokesman said: “Following an internal investigation, a member of the club’s academy coaching staff was found to have demonstrated poor practice during his work.
“At an impartial hearing, he was then disciplined in line with the club’s standard procedures.
“As part of the outcome of that process, he has agreed to undertake further awareness and development training to help improve his performance.”
The Telegraph say the club declined to confirm claims in the letter that James Rowe is the godson of Terry Westley, who was academy director at Birmingham until 2011.
There is no suggestion of sexual abuse or physical violence in this case.
Well done Terry and the club.if it isn’t hard enough to recruit young players not only have you allowed it to happen you haven’t even fired him to restore faith. Why is WHU employing a 31yo to assist the running of the Academy.You need experience at this level not a maverick outsider.
I believe it is called nepotism.
It’s the Birmingham connexion again,
We are a premier club something Birmingham have not been for a long time,
This is where are club legend should come in to work with the kids alongside a person trained to work with young men and boys
Not someone’s relative with out the experience of this club and academy
Many clubs have guys this age in their academy,its where they start & work up from.You dont have to be fifty to get a job in coaching.Bloody hell,Monk is managing a Prem club in his mid-thirties!!This guy just needs a little guidance it appears.
Of course guys this age are in academies or the youth set-ups.Where the **** are they going to start learning their trade otherwise.Do you have to wait till you are heading towards pensionable age before you can get a coaching job in football 😀
We can only guess at what he’s done,probably language or he’s a bit ott,but he’ll know he’s on his last chance so hopefully he’ll come good. As for his age it’s irrelevant to him being a coach.
It’s not their age,it’s their and experience as a Premier Academy assistant Director and tells you a lot about the club at this level now. Nepotism hit it on the head.