Why Wilshere will not be returning to Arsenal despite discussing with Gunners over vacant role
Jack Wilshere is no longer in contention to return to the Arsenal as the new under-21s head coach, with Max Porter currently front-runner to succeed Mehmet Ali, according to The Athletic.
The nature of the role on offer at Arsenal has now changed, and both parties have been unable to reach an agreement despite talks.
None is forthcoming and Wilshere is now expected to continue pursuing his coaching career in senior football after managing Norwich City on an interim basis.
There were also some reservations at the North London club over bringing back a coach who had recently left.
The former under-21s boss, Ali, also managed the under-19s in the UEFA Youth League as part of his job, but the Gunners have decided to divide the role.
Porter will lead the under-21s, and Wilshere was told he would be in charge of the under-19s, the EFL trophy, and support the under-21s staff.
It appears Arsenal were unable to get him to agree to those terms and both parties have gone their separate ways from the look of things.
Porter and fellow coach Ken Gillard have been in interim charge of the under-21s since Ali left.
He is now set to step up to take the role on a permanent basis having worked as the assistant to the departed head coach.
The 38-year-old started his career at the club as the Arsenal under-13s coach before becoming the under-14 head coach and lead phase.
He became the professional development phase under-18 assistant coach and under-17s head coach afterwards, resuming as the assistant to Ali in July 2022.
Wilshere started his career as the head coach of the Arsenal under-18s in July 2022 after retiring from professional football, leading them to the final of the 2022-23 FA Youth Cup in his first season in charge.
However, he left last October to join the backroom staff at Norwich, working under their former manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Wilshere also held talks with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids last October about becoming their manager and will now continue to look for first-team coaching opportunities.
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