West Bromwich Albion have suffered yet another blow to their coaching staff as David Kerslake has reportedly left his role as head of academy coaching less than a week after taking the job.

Kerslake’s departure is the latest in a long list of coaching casualties that the Baggies have suffered since the end of last season.

The 53-year-old took over from Ryan Maye earlier this month after he joined rivals Aston Villa.

Maye spent almost nine years at the Midlands club, spending nearly three of those as head of the academy, but left to take the role of head of coach development and reunite with former West Brom coaches Mark Harrison and Mark Naylor – who made the switch earlier in the summer.

According to Birmingham Live, Kerslake has left the club to join up with former West Brom under-23s boss Michael Appleton and serve as his assistant manager at League One side Lincoln City.

Appleton took charge of the under-23s in July but left to join Lincoln last week, meaning first-team coach Deon Burton has stepped up as interim-boss of the under-23s.

The report suggests that Kerslake’s exit has frustrated the club and means technical director Luke Dowling must begin the search for his replacement.

The Verdict

Kerslake’s exit looks like the latest in a series of frustrating blows that the club has suffered in terms of its coaching staff.

His arrival, alongside the appointments of Richard Stevens and Boaz Myhill, looked to have replenished the West Brom academy’s coaching staff after Villa’s raid in the summer.

However, they now need to go back out and look for further additions after the exits of Kerslake and Appleton.