Neil Critchley's former Liverpool Under-23 assistant manager becomes Blackpool's new number two

Garrity reunites with Pool’s head coach having spent 13 years working with Liverpool’s academy.

A highly qualified coach, Garrity has recently been working with Norwegian outfit Molde and for the Chinese Football Association.

He will officially join Critchley’s backroom staff on July 1.

Garrity said: “After a conversation with Neil and the board, I was very excited to hear how they outlined their vision to develop and help move the club forward.

“Having spent time working with Neil previously I believe we share the same hunger and passion for helping improve and develop players and are never too far apart from how we like to see the game being played.

“I’m very excited about getting started here and really looking forward to working alongside Neil again as well as all the staff and the players.”

During his time on Merseyside, Garrity helped oversee the development of 19 players who went on to make their first-team debuts during a four-year spell as the club’s Lead Development Phase Coach.

He left his role in 2018 as part of an “extensive summer reshuffle” at the club having previously worked his way up the age groups at the academy.

He was tasked with overseeing all of the teams between the Under-6s and the Under-11s and was also head coach for the Under-9s.

He was eventually promoted to the Under-18s before becoming Critchley’s assistant with the Under-23s.

While working under Critchley, Garrity helped Liverpool’s Under-23 side finish in second place in their division behind Arsenal.

“I’m delighted that Mike will be joining us from July,” Critchley added.

“Having worked with him previously at Liverpool, I know the qualities he can bring to a coaching team.

“His knowledge and passion for the game will be a huge benefit to myself, the staff and all of the players. I’m really looking forward to working alongside him once again.”

Garrity will also work alongside first-team coach David Dunn, who remains in his post having overseen four games as Pool’s caretaker boss following Simon Grayson’s sacking in February.

The former Blackburn Rovers and England midfielder only arrived at Bloomfield Road in January, originally brought in as part of Grayson’s backroom staff.