Jobs For The Boyos

Last updated : 09 April 2008 By Covsupport News Service
Coventry City manager Chris Coleman has announced his backroom staff for next season.

Going is John Harbin, the fitness coach brought into the club by Iain Dowie. Known as "Uncle" amongst the players, Harbin was responsible for player motivatation and worked dilliengtly on the Sky Blues behalf. All at Covsupport wish him well.

John will be replaced by another John, John Murtough and Mark Howard. Murtough joins City from Fulham but has been at Everton and will be the Performance Director whilst Howard, who worked with former Sky Blue Sam Allardyce at Bolton and Newcastle will be in charge of fitness.

Former Wimbledon and Newcastle player, Andy Thorn has been appointed Chief Scout.

Staying though are Frankie Bunn and Steve Ogrizovic. Bunn, who has been in charge for the last three reserve team fixtures, will be the reserve team manager for next season series of friendlies, whilst City legend Steve Ogrizovic, carries on his role as goalkeeping coach which he had done since Iain Dowie's dismissal after being demoted from his job as reserve team manager.

No news is currently forthcoming about the Academy staff.

Said Coleman to the CT about his appointments: "We have got John Murtough who is really going to head up all departments for us to make sure everything is going in the right direction.

"We are talking about sports science, scouting, Prozone, the medical side and all different departments, we want someone to oversee that and then report to us. "He'll also be concentrating on the installation of performance data equipment at the Ricoh because there is so much to be done.

"In the past I think the club have made the mistake of thinking, let's just make sure we buy some new players, but there's a lot more than that to be done.

"Yes, we need to bring in new players and improve the team for next year, but the infrastructure of the club has to be running alongside that. "One can't be lagging behind the other. It has got to come together. "We have got to improve the training ground and we need to improve across the board rather than in the past just concentrating on one area rather than every aspect, because that's what it needs.

"It is no coincidence that the club has been out of the top flight for the last seven years. "A lot needs to be changed, and not just the players in the first team because the club has to go in another direction.

"John is very good at organising other departments and making sure we get what we want.

"Mark Howard will be in charge of the conditioning of the players and the nutrition and everything. He'll be taking over from John Harbin once the season is over. "John came here with Iain Dowie, and I know he has travelled a lot with Iain, but I knew all about Mark and I always thought that if I came back to work in England he was the one who I would take with me. "I have explained that to John who was fine about it. "He wants to work until the end of the season, which is great."

As for the other positions, he revealed: "We have got Andy Thorn as chief scout and he'll run the scouting department which means expanding into Europe.

"Frank Bunn and Steve Ogrizovic will remain first team staff with myself and Steve Kean. "Oggy will be doing the goalkeeping coaching and I have been really impressed with the pair of them. "I hadn't seen them work before I arrived but I came in with an open mind and they have both been very, very good."