Manchester City international academy coach Jim Cassell insists he chose Andy Welsh to replace him at Eastlands.

There's been claims Cassell was pushed out of City in the summer.

But the celebrated academy coach rubbished the reports, telling mcfc.co.uk: "Andy is someone I tried to get to the club five years ago," he revealed. "When he came to the club a couple of years back I said we had to make sure we had a succession in place. It has worked to plan in a sense.

"Andy will face some challenges of his own but will overcome them because he has good staff in place. The whole structure is good and the staff there now can take it on and do it their way."