New Academy coaching staff appointed

We are pleased to announce the appointments of Wayne Burnett and Perry Suckling to our Academy coaching team.

Former Dagenham & Redbridge manager Wayne joins as our new Under-23s Coach, while Perry returns to the Club as Academy Coach and Academy Goalkeeping Coach following a spell with Queens Park Rangers.

A former midfielder, Wayne represented Leyton Orient, Blackburn Rovers, Plymouth Argyle, Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town – making over 100 appearances for the latter two clubs – during an extensive playing career in the Football League. He left his post as Dagenham & Redbridge manager in December, 2015, and has since worked as a National Coach Developer at the Football Association.

Perry originally joined Spurs in October, 2000, after a playing career that included spells at Coventry City, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Watford and Doncaster Rovers, in addition to loan spells at West Ham United and Brentford. He has also previously enjoyed time coaching in South Africa and back here in the UK with the England youth squads, and served as our Academy Goalkeeping Coach until leaving to take up a position within Queens Park Rangers' Academy in the summer of 2015.

Commenting on the new members of staff, John McDermott, Head of Coaching and Player Development, said: "Wayne brings experience and a fantastic set of attributes to the Academy. He’s a former player, league manager and youth coach at a variety of levels, most latterly as a coach with the Football Association.

“I'm sure he will enhance our existing coaching programme and contribute hugely to the continuation of players graduating through the latter stage of their academy life into senior professional football.

“I’m delighted also that Perry is returning to us and he brings vast experience and knowledge of youth football that can only help the players and staff around him.

“He has an extensive knowledge of how we work and was fundamental in bringing a lot of successful graduates through the Academy here.

“He knows what ‘good’ looks like and we're looking forward to working with him again.”