Leading Portsmouth Academy coach quits Fratton Park
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The former Aston Villa and Derby coach spent four years on the south coast after arriving in June 2022
Sam Hudson has quit as Pompey Academy coach.
The well-regarded ex-Aston Villa man stepped down from his role of lead professional development phase coach on Friday to pursue other opportunities.
Hudson, who succeeded Zesh Rehman in the role in March 2023, is understood to be finalising a switch to an unnamed club.
His departure ends four years at Fratton Park, having joined from Villa’s Academy in June 2022 to spearhead a new-look Blues youth set-up.
Promoted to under-18s boss in March 2023
Appointed as assistant head coach, he arrived alongside Rehman in the aftermath of long-serving Liam Daish’s departure as under-18s boss, with the pair challenged with reinvigorating the club’s Academy.
Following Danny Cowley’s dismissal as Pompey head coach in January 2023, Rehman stepped up to assist the first-team and was eventually appointed permanently in John Mousinho’s backroom.
As a consequence, Hudson was promoted to the lead professional development phase coach role and spent just over three years in the job.
Now, following the culmination of the season, he has left Fratton Park - with his destination still to be officially announced.
Period of change in Pompey Academy
It represents a period of change in the Academy, with long-serving boss Greg Miller leaving in February to become Charlton’s new Academy manager.
The Scot, who had been with the Blues since April 2021, replaced Tom Pell at The Valley following his exit for Tottenham Hotspur.
Miller’s replacement as Pompey’s Academy manager is James Barlow, a former Fratton Park season-ticket holder and ex-St John’s College pupil.
Pompey finished 17th in the EFL Youth Alliance South this season, while were eliminated by Newcastle in the FA Youth Cup in December.
In a farewell message on X on Friday, Hudson wrote: ‘After 4 amazing years, today marks my last day with @Pompey. Been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this fantastic football club, wishing everyone all the best for next season & beyond.’
Before arriving at Fratton Park, Hudson had coached in England, Wales, Sweden and the USA.
In addition to time at Villa, the Uefa A licensed coach had spent three-and-a-half years in Derby’s Academy, while also worked in the youth set-up at Burton Albion and in New Jersey, America.
In addition, his expertise drove him to write the 2021 book Football in a Pandemic: An Insight into Premier League Tactics and Strategies Utilised During the 2020/21 Season.