Wolves have appointed one of the country's brightest youth development talents as Academy Manager. Kevin Thelwell, currently Academy Manager at Derby County, will be joining Wolves on Monday 14th April 2008. Thelwell joined Derby in 2006 and at just 32 years of age became the youngest Academy Manager in the country. He briefly took the reins of the Rams' first team when they parted company with Billy Davies.

Prior to Derby, Thelwell was director of youth development at Preston. He also spent four years with the Welsh FA as course director for the coveted UEFA A and PRO licences for managers.

Jez Moxey, Chief Executive, said: "The continued success of our Academy is of paramount importance to Wolves. We've taken our time to identify and recruit a top class youth development professional and in Kevin Thelwell I am confident we have the right man.

"Kevin will start work next Monday and as Academy Manager he will lead a talented and experienced team who are passionate about the development of young players for our first team.

"Over the years, we've had numerous top quality players come through the system. Kevin's job will be to improve on the achievements of the Academy to date and, with the support of the entire football staff at Molineux, take our Academy to an even higher level.

"Everyone at the Club is really pleased with Kevin's appointment and I hope he will be with us for a very long time because continuity and longevity within youth development is a very important ingredient in helping create lasting success."

Kevin added: "I'm delighted to be joining a club of the size and stature of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club has a top academy, which is revered in the game for finding young talent and moving them through into the first team. I'm looking forward to picking up the reins and doing the job justice."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: "I'd like to welcome Kevin to the club. A couple of the lads know him already and I'm sure he'll fit in really well. He's got a good reputation for being committed to youth football and we're all looking forward to working with him."