Town have parted company with U18s coach Russell Osman, we understand. The former Blues and England centre-half, whose official title was professional development (lead) coach, has been at the academy since being appointed by ex-manager Paul Jewell in February 2011.

A key member of Sir Bobby Robson’s 1981 UEFA Cup-winning team, who won 11 full England caps, Osman made 382 starts and three sub appearances with Town, scoring 29 goals.

He made his debut in September 1977 having come through the Town's youth ranks, eventually moving on for Leicester at the end of 1984/85.

Professional development coach Gerard Nash could now take on the responsibility of looking after the U18s, while the academy director Bryan Klug will be looking to add to his staff over the season as the Blues aim to move to a Category One set-up for 2014/15.

Speaking last week, Klug revealed that another member of Robson’s side, midfielder Frans Thijssen, will be spending time coaching at Playford Road and we understand that the former Dutch international could potentially make a more permanent return to his old club.

Meanwhile, Town’s U21s coach Mark Kennedy was spotted at Blue Square Bet Premier Barnet’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Limassol at The Hive on Saturday.

Bees’ centre-half David Stephens may have been the reason for Kennedy’s trip with Championship and League One clubs understood to have been keeping tabs on the 21-year-old’s progress since his move from Hibernian to the then-League Two side last summer.

Born in Welwyn Garden City, Wales U21 international Stephens started his career with Norwich but made only one sub appearance in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy while at Carrow Road. After a loan spell at Lincoln, the 6ft 4in tall defender moved on to Hibs in July 2010.

Photo: Action Images

runningout added 15:22 - Aug 4 Good luck RO
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ArnieM added 15:26 - Aug 4 Wonder why he's leaving? But really quite excite about players like Fran Thijssen returning in a coaching role. We certainly are making steady developments for the Academy's future now . Nice One Brian!
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Super_Cooper added 15:55 - Aug 4 One Legend leaves. Another Legend (may) arrive.
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KuqiCoup added 16:20 - Aug 4 Family reasons I believe. Spoke to him a few weeks back and he was looking to move so I'd imagine that's behind it.
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blues1 added 17:48 - Aug 4 trust me kuqi, while ill not say why hes leaving, I have it on good authority that its certainly nothing to do with family reasons. suffice it to say,he didn't leave of his own accord, if the information ive received is correct. and I have no reason to think its not.
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Ipswich24 added 18:22 - Aug 4 I was speaking to someone who works at club last night, and asked why we are taking on all ex players as coaches. He said purely down to looking good and pleasing the fans and building bridges. He said few are clearly not cut out to be coaches, he said there are better coaches out there
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Dissboyitfc added 18:34 - Aug 4 Well, whatever the reason i wish him well. I cant help feeling that if the split was amicable there would have been some kind of quote From Russell? Time will tell i suppose. Excited about the Thijssen link if true. Best of luck Russell, a great town player.....coyb
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TractorBeezer added 19:09 - Aug 4 I wish you well Roger. Will be interesting to see Frans back again...a key player in Sir Bobby's team. Also I often got to see him play for the Whitecaps in Vancouver around 1983. Good luck to both of you.
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WickedBlue added 20:10 - Aug 4 Russell is a legend I am really sad to see him go and wish h all thd best.
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runningout added 20:24 - Aug 4 'TractorBeezer' It's Russell Osman that's moving on
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thebeat added 21:03 - Aug 4 Roger? lol
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Lennyboy added 21:37 - Aug 4 Good luck Russell, worked for his dad in the centre spot bar back in the late seventies early eighties. Brilliant times getting paid to watch the town. Russell was always about and more than happy to chat with anyone. Was a great ambassador for the club.
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TractorBeezer added 00:09 - Aug 5 runningout and thebeat...thanks for straightening me out. Must remember to proofread!
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Blue041273 added 09:46 - Aug 5 Ipswich24 'Pleasing the fans' - now that's an original thought isn't it? Doesn't really explain why RO is leaving. Maybe, just maybe, there is nothing controversial in this and that the club really wants to recruit coaches who a) meet all the coaching qualification criteria while also being significant 'names'; and b) can actually do the job and inspire the kids to want to play for us. Legends like FT can do this better than anonymous people from elsewhere in the country.

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bluepeter added 11:57 - Aug 5 Is that Russel Osbourne's brother Tractor Beezer?
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Whitecaps_Fan added 19:36 - Aug 5 legend....that's all
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TractorBeezer added 19:59 - Aug 5 bluepeter .... actually that would be Russel Osborne's brother!
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