Derby County’s Head of Academy Goalkeeping Ross Atkins has joined Wycombe Wanderers, as announced by the Chairboys’ website.
Derby County now have a job vacancy to fill and will be weighing up their options. DCFC are currently fighting to preserve their Championship status.
Atkins, 35, has spent the last four years at Pride Park but has now left for a new challenge at Adams Park. He has been appointed as Wycombe Wanderers’ Head of Goalkeeping.
Their Chief Football Officer Dan Rice has told their website: “Ross is a very talented coach and we’re really pleased to bring him to the club to work alongside our first-team coaches and also oversee the goalkeeping department across all age groups.
“We’d like to thank Jerome John, who did a terrific job after stepping up to work with the first-team goalkeepers during an interim period since January, and now returns to his position within the academy.”
Derby County coach Ross Atkins heads to Wycombe Wanderers
Atkins spent his playing days as a goalkeeper and started out at Derby County. He rose up through the ranks of his local team and was a regular at various different youth levels.
He played once for the Rams’ first-team as a youngster and was loaned out to Southport, Burton Albion, Kidderminster Harriers, Tamworth and Alfreton Town to get some experience under his belt.
The former England youth international left Pride Park on a permanent basis in 2014 and dropped into non-league for spells at Gresley, Leamington and Mickleover Sports.
Atkins subsequently hung up his gloves and was handed his first coaching role by Derby County with their academy.
He then switched to Burton Albion for six months in 2020 before returning to the Rams.
The ex-stopper has now decided to join Wycombe Wanderers and he will now work with their goalkeepers as they look to get promoted from League One.
What now for Wycombe Wanderers and Derby County?
The Chairboys are sat in 2nd place in the table as they look to go up along with Birmingham City.
They are back in action this weekend with a crucial clash against 3rd position Wrexham.
As for Derby County, they are in the drop zone in the second tier with Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town.
They turned to John Eustace as their boss earlier this winter and have won their last two matches on the spin as they look to beat Plymouth Argyle up next.
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