Birmingham City makes a significant addition, in their struggle for survival.

Despite their ongoing concerns over staying in the Championship, Birmingham City has announced the appointment of Mike Rigg as the club’s new academy technical director. This appointment is a clear gesture to the club’s long-term prospects and support of Knighthead Capital’s goal to maintain and improve the club’s fortunes.

Although Rigg has played for Burnley, Queens Park Rangers, Manchester City, and the Wales national team in the past, his most recent employer was Al Jazira in the UAE Pro League. When the hiring was announced, Blues said that Rigg will provide the team with “a wealth of coaching, administrative, and strategic experience from the professional game.”

With 34 years of football experience, Rigg will work at the club’s Wast Hills training facility, home of the Blues academy. He will mainly collaborate with academy managers of football Liam Daish and operations Louisa Collis. After having conversations with the club’s technical director Craig Gardner and CEO Garry Cook, Rigg wants to eventually restore the team’s standing as a Category One academy.

With five games remaining in the season, Blues, who have reinstated Gary Rowett as interim manager while Tony Mowbray recovers from surgery, are trying to secure their spot in the Championship. Meanwhile, the club’s ownership is pushing forward with long-term plans that include growth and spreading the Blues brand farther afield.

“I discussed the plans and vision for the club with Garry Cook and Craig Gardner,” Rigg said to BCFC.com. “It’s incredibly thrilling to be a part of that at a club like Birmingham City, with its history, traditions, and potential. As we strive for Category 1 designation, it is a crucial moment. Though it is a substantial challenge, it is essential to attract and develop the best possible players.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing youth development initiatives on a global scale. The Premier League’s introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) in 2012 stands out as a landmark, creating what I believe is the finest youth development system worldwide. It’s imperative for us to maintain our position among the top contenders in this field. However, effective youth development is an ongoing endeavor that demands consistent dedication every single day of the year.

Key pillars such as player recruitment, coaching and development, education, and welfare form the bedrock of our approach. Our aim is to elevate our Academy to world-class standards across all these domains in the foreseeable future. While our immediate objective is to attain Category 1 status, we view this as just the beginning. Our ultimate aspiration is for our youth development program to be acknowledged globally as exceptional.

Furthermore, Cook emphasized the paramount importance of the Academy to the football club’s future success. This is underscored by the appointment of Mike Rigg, a seasoned and esteemed figure in the professional football realm. Rigg’s primary objective is to transform the Academy into a world-class institution, attracting top-tier young talent and nurturing them into exceptional professionals and individuals. He will receive the necessary time and support to establish the Birmingham City Academy as a revered entity on the global stage.