James McDonaugh Rejoins

[Since452]

Joining the academy setup. Good move.

[Billy Whizz]

Joining the academy setup. Good move.

What role?

[Since452]

What role?

Not sure. Just saw Edinburgh City Tweet about him leaving to re-join Hibs academy.

[Brightside]

What role?

Youth academy. Daily coaching. No idea of title. Can only assume Edin City doesn’t pay much.

[DaveF]

Youth academy. Daily coaching. No idea of title. Can only assume Edin City doesn’t pay much.

Any need for the last part? A bit disrespectful of you with a petty dig about someone's earnings.

[Northernhibee]

Any need for the last part? A bit disrespectful of you with a petty dig about someone's earnings.

TBF last time Arbroath were doing well Paul Sheerin was the manager and he left to join the Aberdeen youth set up. I don't think any of the part-time clubs outwith a select couple can pay even what a full time coaching role will pay at a full time top flight club.

[J-C]

James had a very decent record with the youth set up before, it can only be a good thing getting a a very well respected youth coach back.

[Since452]

James had a very decent record with the youth set up before, it can only be a good thing getting a a very well respected youth coach back.

Yup. Think it's a good move for Hibs and James.

[04Sauzee]

Club
August 16, 2021
Edinburgh City Confirms the Departure of James McDonaugh

The Club can confirm that Sporting Director James McDonaugh has left his role to accept a position with Hibernian’s Youth Academy. James has been with the Club since October 2017, firstly as manager then since March this year as Sporting Director. Hibernian’s approach was unwanted however following discussions with James, it became clear that this was something he was keen to explore.

In his time as manager James led the Club to third and then second place finishes in League 2, with a particular highlight of his tenure being a superb run to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in 2018. After taking up the position of Sporting Director he has worked extremely hard to support the board and first team management, while at the same time putting the building blocks in place for our Youth Section to develop.

Chairman Jim Brown paid tribute to James when ECFC TV spoke to him:

“James came into the Club when we were battling to maintain our SPFL future and he helped us consolidate our position and introduced a greater level of professionalism to the way the first team was organised, both on and off the field. As a Club we backed him and he delivered our highest league position in 2018, then improved on that the following season. I would like to thank him for all the hard work and determination he has shown during his time here; he has played a big part in the Club’s development and I wish him nothing but success in the future.”

ECFC TV spoke the James and he had this to say on the news of his departure:

“I’d like to thank everyone at the club, the directors, supporters, volunteers, players and staff for the near four years I have been at the club.

There has been so many great times and memories to take away. I’ve formed some great relationships throughout the club but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to get back coaching and being on the training pitch daily.

Thank you and good luck to everyone at City in the future; the Club will always be special to me and I will continue to look out for their results every week!”

Everyone at the Club wishes James good luck in his new role!

#OurECFC

[Ozyhibby]

Head of professional phase

Think Hibs have now put player development as core business function. Previously I think it was just seen as a nice by-product if we could sell the odd player. Now it’s front and centre of what we do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JimBHibees]

Sounds like another positive development

[scoopyboy]

Speaking to James last week and he's delighted to be coming back.

[hibeegranny]

Head of professional phase

[Andy74]

I hope we end up with more players ready for the first team. I think when he looked after the youth teams previously they were winning things and we played some good stuff but it was almost as if winning games at that level was the end goal - very few of these players were ever equipped to be first team players.

[brog]

Youth academy. Daily coaching. No idea of title. Can only assume Edin City doesn’t pay much.

I've pm'ed you.

[NC1875]

James was my coach many years ago and he is excellent and a great guy too. Good move for the club.

[Vault Boy]

Seems like a very clever appointment. Welcome home James.

[brog]

I hope we end up with more players ready for the first team. I think when he looked after the youth teams previously they were winning things and we played some good stuff but it was almost as if winning games at that level was the end goal - very few of these players were ever equipped to be first team players.


The starting 11 which won the u18 cup, part of a double, in 2018 has provided 8 players who have made 1st team appearances and 5 are part of the current 1st team squad. That's an outstanding return. Our club's emphasis is always on preparing players for the 1st team but winning trophies doesn't have to be incompatible with that goal.

[Andy74]

The starting 11 which won the u18 cup, part of a double, in 2018 has provided 8 players who have made 1st team appearances and 5 are part of the current 1st team squad. That's an outstanding return. Our club's emphasis is always on preparing players for the 1st team but winning trophies doesn't have to be incompatible with that goal.

That was after his time though - we had very successful youth teams when he was with us and it all seemed to be more about those team's results first and foremost rather than getting them ready to play first team football. I think we have changed emphasis since but it was pretty widely acknowledged that were were not developing first team players during that period.

[Since452]

His experience at EC will only benefit us. The players he's worked with all seem to rave about him. I think it's another good positive step by Hibs.

[hibbysam]

Speaking to James last week and he's delighted to be coming back.

Spoke to him at the bools a few weeks back and he wasn’t enjoying the ‘upstairs’ role at all. Much prefers being in the thick of it. Good move for us and him.

[MyJo]

Head of professional phase

Sounds like they are devoting resources to bridging that gap between u-19 football and the first team that seems to have been a step to far for a lot of our academy graduates.

[jeffers]

Spoke to him at the bools a few weeks back and he wasn’t enjoying the ‘upstairs’ role at all. Much prefers being in the thick of it. Good move for us and him.

Isn’t he a big Hibby too ?

[lord bunberry]

That was after his time though - we had very successful youth teams when he was with us and it all seemed to be more about those team's results first and foremost rather than getting them ready to play first team football. I think we have changed emphasis since but it was pretty widely acknowledged that were were not developing first team players during that period.
Dempster definitely mentioned this early on in her tenure. She said that players weren’t developed physically to be able to make the step up to the first team.

[J-C]

Dempster definitely mentioned this early on in her tenure. She said that players weren’t developed physically to be able to make the step up to the first team.
We had a few good technical players like Stanton, Handling etc but physically nowhere near ready to establish themselves as 1st team regulars, did he not work with Alistair Stevenson at the time?

[ian cruise]

We had a few good technical players like Stanton, Handling etc but physically nowhere near ready to establish themselves as 1st team regulars, did he not work with Alistair Stevenson at the time?

I have no idea why but Danny Handling is the player that it bothers me most that didn't make it coming through our youth ranks. I just had this utter belief he would be a breakout star and it never happened. Even when he first left I had this idea he'd do a Stephen Dobbie, step down find his way but unlike Dobbie, end up back at Hibs. I'll begrudgingly admit that ship has sailed.

[lord bunberry]

We had a few good technical players like Stanton, Handling etc but physically nowhere near ready to establish themselves as 1st team regulars, did he not work with Alistair Stevenson at the time?
I can’t remember tbh, I just remember it being said that the players were technically good, but struggled with the physical aspect of stepping up. There was a complete overhaul of the academy and new people brought in to address these problems.

[Billy Whizz]

I have no idea why but Danny Handling is the player that it bothers me most that didn't make it coming through our youth ranks. I just had this utter belief he would be a breakout star and it never happened. Even when he first left I had this idea he'd do a Stephen Dobbie, step down find his way but unlike Dobbie, end up back at Hibs. I'll begrudgingly admit that ship has sailed.

Apart from Porteous, best young player I’ve seen come through at Hibs in last 10 years or so
Wasn’t blessed with pace, but had fantastic technical skills, and could play anywhere middle to front
Danny had 2 bad injuries, probably one of the reasons he didn’t make it at Hibs

[Since452]

Apart from Porteous, best young player I’ve seen come through at Hibs in last 10 years or so
Wasn’t blessed with pace, but had fantastic technical skills, and could play anywhere middle to front
Danny had 2 bad injuries, probably one of the reasons he didn’t make it at Hibs

Remember him having a really good game at Ibrox. Think it might have been the Ramsdens/Petrofac/Irn-Bru cup thing. I'd agree with you on him being the best one out with Porto. Shame it didn't quite work out.

[J-C]

I can’t remember tbh, I just remember it being said that the players were technically good, but struggled with the physical aspect of stepping up. There was a complete overhaul of the academy and new people brought in to address these problems.

Eddie May came in when James and Stevenson left, May was seen as a bit stricter discipline wise, I think he came with Craig from Falkirk where they had good success with the youth set up there.

[JimBHibees]

Remember him having a really good game at Ibrox. Think it might have been the Ramsdens/Petrofac/Irn-Bru cup thing. I'd agree with you on him being the best one out with Porto. Shame it didn't quite work out.

That the game Beaton sent him off for nothing when we were winning. Ended up 2 1 loss.

[lord bunberry]

Eddie May came in when James and Stevenson left, May was seen as a bit stricter discipline wise, I think he came with Craig from Falkirk where they had good success with the youth set up there.
:agree: That’s how I remember it as well.

[JimBHibees]

That was after his time though - we had very successful youth teams when he was with us and it all seemed to be more about those team's results first and foremost rather than getting them ready to play first team football. I think we have changed emphasis since but it was pretty widely acknowledged that were were not developing first team players during that period.

Would it not be right to say the facilities at HTC plus sport science department and strength and conditioning coaches should now ensure that isn't the case in terms of being physically ready for first team.

[ian cruise]

Would it not be right to say the facilities at HTC plus sport science department and strength and conditioning coaches should now ensure that isn't the case in terms of being physically ready for first team.

Those definitely will give the players the best possible chance, the only problem is that there's a side of development that is just down to nature, some players will just develop differently to others which can't be accounted for. Where those areas you've highlighted should come in to play is identifying if it is down to work or natural development and giving us more insight in to whether they're likely to meet the standards

I still think there's going to be a gap between the youth teams and first teams that the development leagues can't quite fill right now and hopefully our agreements with other clubs for loan deals helps cover that.

[J-C]

That the game Beaton sent him off for nothing when we were winning. Ended up 2 1 loss.

That's the one, he played a sort of deep playmaker role and ran the show, his biggest problem was thinking he'd made it and being given a long 5 year deal I think it was, maybe when Lennon took over.

[Billy Whizz]

Those definitely will give the players the best possible chance, the only problem is that there's a side of development that is just down to nature, some players will just develop differently to others which can't be accounted for. Where those areas you've highlighted should come in to play is identifying if it is down to work or natural development and giving us more insight in to whether they're likely to meet the standards

I still think there's going to be a gap between the youth teams and first teams that the development leagues can't quite fill right now and hopefully our agreements with other clubs for loan deals helps cover that.

We’ve got a great group at under 18 level just now
Not sure what the plan is for them now, stay at Hibs or go out on loan?
Quite a number are just 16 though

[J-C]

We have great facilities and coaching for any youngsters wanting to make it in the game, it's all up to them, look at Porteous and Doig as 2 good examples

[hibbysam]

Would it not be right to say the facilities at HTC plus sport science department and strength and conditioning coaches should now ensure that isn't the case in terms of being physically ready for first team.

100%. A football coach is clearly going to be lacking a bit when it comes to S&C and nutrition etc. To lay that blame at James’ door would be rather harsh. Our youngsters now all follow their own programmes and get time with the clubs strength coaches which takes their personal attributes to another level and ensures they are ready for the progression.

[MWHIBBIES]

That's the one, he played a sort of deep playmaker role and ran the show, his biggest problem was thinking he'd made it and being given a long 5 year deal I think it was, maybe when Lennon took over.

His biggest problem was 2 major injuries. He never played for Hibs in 15/16 or 16/17.

[brog]

That was after his time though - we had very successful youth teams when he was with us and it all seemed to be more about those team's results first and foremost rather than getting them ready to play first team football. I think we have changed emphasis since but it was pretty widely acknowledged that were were not developing first team players during that period.


The bulk of those players who did the double had been working with James for years. You can't have it both ways, you say he was focussed on results to the detriment of development but then say he wasn't responsible for the good results! As an aside, our cup win in 2018 was our 1st since 2007, not really a very successful focus on results. James will continue with the absolutely primary focus of developing young players for the 1st team squad. Nothing has ever really changed in that respect but instilling a winning mentality is also a key part of a player's development.

[green day]

Isn’t he a big Hibby too ?

Indeed he is.

[Andy74]

The bulk of those players who did the double had been working with James for years. You can't have it both ways, you say he was focussed on results to the detriment of development but then say he wasn't responsible for the good results! As an aside, our cup win in 2018 was our 1st since 2007, not really a very successful focus on results. James will continue with the absolutely primary focus of developing young players for the 1st team squad. Nothing has ever really changed in that respect but instilling a winning mentality is also a key part of a player's development.

I think he had left about 3 years before 2018.

Anyway, good that he played some role in their early development. The fact remains that the period he ran our youth team was a period where we produced very few players ready for the first team.

Eddie May and others were quite critical when they came in of the way that we were building nice teams for that level but weren't bringing through players equipped to play first team football. I'm sure our whole set up has changed considerably since then and we obviously feel he has a role to play.

[Brightside]

I've pm'ed you.

No you havent. :greengrin

[Billy Whizz]

Cummings, Hanlon ,Harris,Wotherspoon,Stevenson to name a few all came from the Scottish cup winning team under him and I believe league winners too
Will be good to have him back where he belongs anyone who knows him knows that he is Hibs through n through

I think your timeline is a bit out with these players, apart from Spoony

[Key West]

Excellent appointment.

[brog]

No you havent. :greengrin

I'll try again later! 😀

[brog]

I think he had left about 3 years before 2018.

Anyway, good that he played some role in their early development. The fact remains that the period he ran our youth team was a period where we produced very few players ready for the first team.

Eddie May and others were quite critical when they came in of the way that we were building nice teams for that level but weren't bringing through players equipped to play first team football. I'm sure our whole set up has changed considerably since then and we obviously feel he has a role to play.

I honestly think it's a bit of a Hibs Net myth about players not being ready for the 1st team. A lot of it's cyclical and a lot of it's luck! You get some exceptional years, like our golden generation but mostly if one or 2 players break through you've done pretty well. I will say this, going back over 50 years and my association with Hibs scouts, players and coaches, it has always been our objective and focus to prepare young players for the 1st team. Nothing has ever changed in that respect.

[hibbysam]

I think your timeline is a bit out with these players, apart from Spoony

Hanlon moved up just the year before, whether he played in that team or not I’m not sure.

[MyJo]

I think he had left about 3 years before 2018.

Anyway, good that he played some role in their early development. The fact remains that the period he ran our youth team was a period where we produced very few players ready for the first team.

Eddie May and others were quite critical when they came in of the way that we were building nice teams for that level but weren't bringing through players equipped to play first team football. I'm sure our whole set up has changed considerably since then and we obviously feel he has a role to play.

The club has been massively transformed behind the scenes since he was here last.

His coaching will now be backed up by sports scientists, data analytics, specialised strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists & psychologists that the club employs helping develop the players both physically and mentally as well as technically in being ready for the first team. very little of which would have been in place back then.

Hopefully that makes the difference between what happened in the past and what we hope will happen in the future in getting players into the first team and establishing themselves like Porteous and Doig have done.

[Billy Whizz]

Hanlon moved up just the year before, whether he played in that team or not I’m not sure.

Paul made his Hibs debut in Jan 2008
I’m trying to remember when McDonaugh started to coach the Development team, and when he left
Think Alastair Stevenson took the 2009 double winning squad. Think only Spoony, Booth and Sean Welsh had a long term career in Football
A few like Taggart and Byrne had a career in lower leagues

[McD]

Paul made his Hibs debut in Jan 2008
I’m trying to remember when McDonaugh started to coach the Development team, and when he left
Think Alastair Stevenson took the 2009 double winning squad. Think only Spoony, Booth and Sean Welsh had a long term career in Football
A few like Taggart and Byrne had a career in lower leagues


always thought Sean Welsh would be a star, laddie had it all, still think he came to the first team squad at a time of relative turmoil, managers never getting very long and not giving much youth a chance, and getting punched (broken jaw?) by Martin Scott