Kenny Wharton

Coaching career In 1989, a knee injury cut short his playing career and Wharton worked for a short period in the Probation Service before getting the opportunity to get back into football with St Johnstone, working under John McClelland.

Middlesbrough then offered Wharton a part-time job as coach to their first team, this later became full-time and he graduated to their under 19s, working very successfully with a number of players who later were to progress to the first team.

Wharton returned to Newcastle in 1999 and worked in tandem with former academy director Alan Irvine. In 2002, Wharton was promoted from assistant academy director to academy director, taking over from Alan Irvine who left to join Everton as assistant manager to David Moyes.

In October 2004, following restructuring of the academy personnel, John Carver took over as academy director and Wharton assumed the role of academy coach. During the 2003–04 season, Wharton also joined the reserve team coaching staff. In May 2010 Wharton was released from Newcastle Utd under allegations of bullying. In October 2010 Wharton was named Director of Coaching at Halifax City S.C. in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Wharton currently coaches at Newcastle Blue Star and is the first team manager.