Swindon Town have appointed Cheltenham Town academy manager Tim Bell as their new Head of Academy and Head of Football Development.
The move follows the departure of Mark Moss and represents a major restructuring of Swindon’s youth system, which has seen significant staff turnover during the past 12 months.
Bell, 35, leaves Cheltenham after more than a decade of service in multiple roles, including Academy Manager, Head of Coaching, and First Team Analyst. His appointment at the County Ground marks the latest step in a long-term plan to modernise and strengthen Swindon’s player development model.
We can confirm that Academy Manager Tim Bell will be leaving the Club, bringing an end to his 16-year affiliation with Cheltenham Town.
Everyone at the Club would like to wish Tim all the very best in his future endeavours ❤️#ctfc♦️
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) October 21, 2025
Tim Bell Moves To Wiltshire
Swindon have been searching for a new academy leader since early September, following Moss’s exit from football. Bell’s arrival ends a process that has included several interviews as the club sought the right candidate to drive a consistent pathway from academy to first team.
Having joined Cheltenham in 2009, Bell oversaw youth operations from the under-9s to under-18s and played a major role in producing homegrown players for the Robins’ first team. His previous experience as Head of Performance Analysis also gave him first-hand insight into senior-level football, including during Cheltenham’s 2015–16 National League title-winning campaign.
Bell also spent a year in Ghana managing the Right to Dream Academy in Takoradi, one of Africa’s most respected youth programmes. That international experience is seen as vital to his new responsibilities at Swindon, where he will combine academy direction with broader football development strategy.
Swindon Town are delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Bell as the club’s new Academy Director and Head of Football Development.
— Swindon Town Football Club Academy (@academystfc) October 21, 2025
What It Means For Swindon Town
Bell replaces Moss as Swindon’s second Head of Academy in less than a year, following Alex Pike’s departure to Brentford in 2024. His brief will include strengthening recruitment across the southwest, developing coaching continuity across age groups, and expanding pathways into League Two football.
The appointment reflects Swindon’s ongoing commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. In recent seasons, the academy has produced several promising players, including forward Joel McGregor, while also enjoying success in the FA Youth Cup. Club officials hope Bell’s leadership and academic background (he holds a Master’s degree in Coaching Science from Hartpury University) will bring renewed structure and modern methodology to the setup.
For Cheltenham, his departure represents the loss of a long-serving figure who had become central to their youth identity. The Robins must now begin their own search for a replacement capable of sustaining progress in the wake of his exit.
Bell’s arrival signals a more data-driven, development-focused future at Swindon, aiming to reconnect the club’s youth philosophy with first-team objectives. With a clear mandate to blend performance analysis, coaching science, and player development, his tenure could prove a defining chapter in the club’s long-term rebuild.
