Tait was appointed manager of the Everton Under-18s in the summer of 2017 and the past season saw his side finish fifth in the Under-18 Premier League as well as advancing to the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup.
The season gone by also saw two of the Toffees’ Under-18s players make first team debuts in an FA Cup win versus Sheffield United, namely Thierry Small and Tyler Onyango, with the former becoming the club’s youngest-ever player to play for the senior team.
Tait stressed that while he always wants his side to be competitive, he knows his primary responsibility is developing players for the future and getting them ready for football at Under-23 and senior level.
He added that he is understanding of his responsibility and does not let the allure of trophies distract him.
“We obviously want to be competitive in the Under-18 league but our priority must always be to improve and develop our players for the next level”, Tait wrote on Everton’s official site.
“That’s why we all understand and appreciate our best players will move up to David in the Under-23s or, even better, the First-Team squad.
“That’s a development coach’s job.
“Although everyone would like to win leagues and cups because we’re competitive sportspeople, you cannot let that cloud your judgement when you try to develop individuals.”
Everton’s academy in the past has produced such Premier League mainstays as Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman, Shane Duffy and Ross Barkley.
