Brentford CEO Andrew Mills says a change in direction is behind the club’s decision to axe director of youth football Barry Quin after 20 years with the club.

Quin, once caretaker manager at Griffin Park, officially left the club at the start of the month as new investor Matthew Benham and Brentford United look to turn the Centre of Excellence in to an Academy.

“Barry has been an integral part of the club for far longer than either of us would care to remember and it is with regret that we have arrived at an agreement for him to leave,” he said.

“We are making a number of changes to the Centre of Excellence as it aspires to transform into the Academy, which remains an integral part of the Benham/BU Partnership.

“We believe it to be the right time for both Barry and the football club to move in a fresh direction.

“I would to like to thank him for his commitment to Brentford over the last 20 years.”

Quin added: “As Brentford move in a different direction with their youth development plans I believe it is the right time for me to do the same in my personal development.

“I leave the club with a mixture of sadness as it has been such a big part of my life over so many years, and excitement for the new challenges that are ahead of me.”