---
title: "City set for two academy coaching changes as Wilkinson departs for Derby"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/06/30/man-city-academy-coaching-changes-wilkinson-coggin-derby/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2026-06-30T14:43:33Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T19:28:47Z"
---

# City set for two academy coaching changes as Wilkinson departs for Derby

**[Manchester City](https://readmancity.com/) are preparing two coaching appointments at academy level, with Under-21s boss Ben Wilkinson leaving to join John Eustace’s staff at Derby County.**

Wilkinson goes with the club’s blessing after two years in the role and several more at City before that. His exit opens up the Under-18s position too, with that vacancy also expected to be filled internally.

Reiss, who has impressed at Under-18s level, reaching four finals in two seasons and proving popular with the squad, is set for promotion into the Under-21s job. Lauris Coggin, who assisted Wilkinson with the Under-21s last season after a decade in West Ham’s academy, including a spell as their Under-18s lead coach, has been lined up to fill the role Reiss vacates.

It continues a familiar pattern at City, where academy coaches are increasingly poached just as their players are. Wilkinson’s predecessor Brian Barry-Murphy went on to Leicester before taking charge at Cardiff, and before him it was Enzo Maresca — now back at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola’s successor.

The reshuffle is designed to give City continuity heading into pre-season, with academy players due back in July and several in line for a place on the club’s tour of Asia, given how many senior players are away at the World Cup.