Two months after leaving TFC, Neely takes keys of Whitecaps Residency By Steven Sandor Posted on February 2, 2012 2 0 617 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter It has not taken Stuart Neely long to resurface on the Canadian soccer scene. Neely, who resigned his post as the director of TFC Academy in December, was on Thursday named the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Head of Player Management and Advancement. Basically, he’s been given the keys to the Residency program. While Neely quit of his own accord, TFC’s hiring of Dutch-system disciple and former U.S. U-20 coach Thomas Rongen as its new Academy director confirmed that the Reds wanted to have every level of the organization on board with coach and technical director Aron Winter’s footballing philosophy. Neely, no matter his record, was a holdover from the Mo Johnston reign. TFC Academy did have success under Neely, promoting six players out of its Academy, including reigning Canadian U-20 player of the year Ashtone Morgan, Doneil Henry and the injured Nicholas Lindsay. Stuart Neely in his TFC days “We’re very pleased to have someone of Stuart’s experience and pedigree join Whitecaps FC,” said Whitecaps’ president Bob Lenarduzzi in a release issued by the club. “Having managed elite player development for many years, Stuart brings an abundance of Canadian soccer knowledge — from the community level, through the club system, and right up to the national level with the Canadian Soccer Association. He will be a key asset in strengthening our development program.” What’s interesting is that the Whitecaps have two Ontario-born teens on their senior roster — both Generation Adidas signings — who did their utmost to escape the clutches of TFC Academy during Neely’s reign. Russell Teibert spent a short stint with TFC Academy in ’08 before bolting to the Whitecaps’ Residency. Teibert claimed the reason he left was because TFC Academy, at the time, didn’t offer the kind of full-time training that was available in Vancouver. And Bryce Alderson decided two years ago to come to the Whitecaps Residency rather than TFC Academy. The Kitchener, Ont. native is the reigning U-17 Player of the Year.
