Soccer:Brian Kidd has returned to Manchester City as technical development manager at the club's academy.

His brief will be to coach both the talented youngsters coming through Platt Lane and also head up the in-service training of the staff.

Kidd spent last season at Portsmouth, where along with Paul Hart they kept the club in the Barclays Premier League following the departure of Tony Adams.

City’s football administration officer Brian Marwood said: “Brian has vast experience at both club and international level.

“He will help maintain the excellent development programme we have in place at the academy,” stressed Marwood.

“He was much in demand when it became clear he wasn’t going to stay at Portsmouth and we are delighted that Brian has chosen to come and work with us.”