Brentford apply for category one academy status as interim director appointed | OneFootball

Bees have lost previous academy chief Stephen Torpey to Manchester United

Brentford have formally applied for category one academy status and appointed Jamie Greenwood as interim academy director following the departure of Stephen Torpey to Manchester United.

The process of applying for category one status has been ongoing and part of a long-term strategy, but the Bees have now submitted their application.

Torpey, a key figure in Brentford's academy redevelopment, served his final day at the club last week, with Greenwood, formerly head of academy football development, promoted from within to replace him as director on an interim basis.

Under Torpey's leadership, Brentford climbed from category four academy status to category two last summer and reintroduced the under-9 to under-16 age groups.

Brentford, who moved to a B team model in 2016, had to reintroduce an academy setup at the start of the 2022/23 season following their promotion to the Premier League.

Initially granted category four status, they were informed that they had to be a category three academy by the start of the 2024/25 season, but instead became the first club to move straight to academy two status with Torpey as director.

As part of their application for category one status, Brentford completed the building of an indoor pitch at the club's Jersey Road training ground this summer.

Brentford are in the process of identifying a new permanent academy director and have posted a job listing for the role on their website, with applications closing on October 3.

The job specification outlines the academy director's role in helping the club reach category one academy status.

"The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and managing the Academy Leadership Team, ensuring elite standards in support of our journey towards being a Category 1 Academy."