FORMER Crystal Palace caretaker manager Paul Hart has been appointed as academy director at Charlton.

Hart guided the Eagles to safety last year after the club were placed into administration and deducted 10 points in the Championship.

His most recent role was as first team boss at Swindon Town, although he wasn’t able to prevent them from dropping down to League Two after he succeeded Danny Wilson in March.

Hart’s new role at The Valley is to develop young talent within the club’s academy.

Chairman Michael Slater said: “He will oversee the changes that need to be made next year to ensure we are able to retain our youth academy status within the new structures being introduced by the Premier League.”

Hart’s arrival isn’t the only move behind the scenes in SE7 today.

Former technical director Keith Peacok is now Charlton’s football advisor, Phil Chapple’s title has changed from chief scout to scouting co-ordinator and Jeff Vetere is officially back as technical director.

Steve Avory will continue in his position as academy manager.

Mr Slater added: “After we took control of the club in January, we instigated a strategic review of the football-related operations of the football club, which have resulted in these changes.

“It is vital that manager Chris Powell is provided with up-to-date information on the availability of players, both domestically and overseas, and Jeff is the ideal person to head up the new scouting operation. We are delighted he left Aston Villa to join us.

“We will be appointing seven regional scouts to cover every region of the UK, as well as Scotland and Ireland. We will also be strengthening our match assessment operation, which provides detailed information for Chris on our opponents.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt