Dean Smith has backed Kevin O'Connor to carry on the good work that Flemming Pedersen started at Brentford.

Pedersen, who joined the Bees as Head of Football Philosophy in June last year, took over the running of Brentford's B team in January with club legend O'Connor as his assistant.

But Pedersen left Griffin Park last month to take up a role at FC Nordsjaelland in his native Denmark, with O'Connor taking the B team reins.

Bees boss Smith feels O'Connor, who made just over 500 appearances for the club, is the right man to guide through the next generation of talent at Griffin Park.

Flemming Pedersen

He said: “Flemming's coaching has been really good and the players learnt a lot from him, so we were disappointed to see him go, but understood his decision, with his family being over in Denmark.

“Kevin can certainly carry on the education of the players. Flemming has been ably supported by him, which has helped Kevin mature into a good coach. He is ready to take over now. The B team has put in some good performances and acquitted themselves well.”

Tom Field, Emmanuel Onariase, Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, Dominic Kurasik, Jan Holldack, Justin Shaibu and Reece Cole have all made first team squads this season.

But Smith warned that they need to keep working hard if they are to follow the likes of Josh Clarke into the first team.

Graduate: Josh Clarke is the most recent success story from Brentford's youth set up

He added: “We need good young players we can rely on. We've had a few in and around the squad, which shows the system is working, and if need be, these players have to show they're good enough to come and join in with us.

“We have a few B team players come in and train with us every day so it makes the transition easier, but I don't want to predict what we will have in the future as we've all seen the next best thing at 14 years old who has been passed over by at the age of 18.

“They have all got potential, but potential is only a word – what they have to do is go and fulfill it. We will give them a helping hand, but it's not always about how good they are at football. It can be about their attitude, application and behaviour around the place.”

Meanwhile, sources in Denmark have claimed that Pedersen's fellow Dane, former Brondby head coach Thomas Franks, is set to join the Brentford coaching staff.

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