Brentford make key new appointment after Manchester United poach | OneFootball

Bees set for thorough shake-up of youth ranks

Brentford FC

Getty Images

Brentford have appointed Dave Rainford as their new academy director to replace Stephen Torpey, who left in September to take on the same role at Manchester United.

The Bees conducted interviews in January before settling on the appointment of Rainford.

Since Torpey left the role with Brentford’s academy to join Manchester United in September, Jamie Greenwood has been in place as interim academy director.

Standard Sport understands Greenwood will stay on at the club in a full-time position once Rainford has started in the permanent role.

Rainford’s role at the Premier League has involved working closely with academies across England, with a particular focus on player pathways.

London-born Rainford will be taking on his first academy director post when he begins his role at Brentford in the spring.

The former assistant manager of Chelmsford City in 2012-13 previously worked as a teacher before he joined the Premier League.

When playing for Dagenham in 2008 while also teaching at a local school in Barking, Rainford was for a short time the only semi-professional footballer in the EFL (then called the Football League).

Having reopened their academy for the start of the 2022-23 season, Brentford were awarded category two status in July 2024. In September 2025, the academy applied for category one status.