Chelsea academy director Neil Bath promoted to first-team role after helping to develop £500m of talent including Mount

NEIL BATH, the man who mentored both Mason Mount and Reece James, has been promoted by Chelsea.

The 57-year-old has enjoyed great success in his previous role as academy director.

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Now, after playing a huge part in bringing through a host of talents through the academy system into the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge, he has been made director of football development and operations.

And that new job will lead to him now being able to have his say on the senior set-up at Chelsea.

Bath’s influence has grown since co-owner Todd Boehly took over earlier this year.

And he supported the American during his first transfer window at the helm.

Now he joins a raft of new additions to the club that will help make decisions on signings.

The Blues appointed Paul Winstanley, who worked with new boss Graham Potter previously at Brighton, as director of global talent and transfers.

Bath was named Chelsea’s academy director back in 2004 after already being employed by them for 12 years.

He set about completely restructuring the West Londoners’ youth programme – with a greater emphasis on procuring and developing the best talent in London and the South-East.

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In the last year, the likes of England star Mount, James and Lewis Hall have been testament to his work – heralding a new dawn in the Chelsea first team of talented youngsters.

And just as impressive are the ones the club let go, including Declan Rice, Nathan Ake, Ryan Bertrand, Tariq Lamptey and Tammy Abraham.