Nix get their assistant: Griffiths joins Italiano

New Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has found his right-hand man, with Adam Griffiths appointed the men’s assistant coach for the next two A-League seasons.

The former Socceroos defender was the lead assistant at Western Sydney Wanderers during the 2022-23 A-League, after two seasons in charge of Manly United in New South Wales’ National Premier Leagues competition.

Before embarking on his coaching career Griffiths was a professional footballer for more than a decade, playing in Belgium, England, Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as well as Australia, where he won the A-League with Newcastle Jets in 2008.

‘‘He’s a good coach with a logical head. He puts a lot of thought into his coaching, and he’s got a really good process,’’ Italiano said.

Under Griffiths’ guidance Western Sydney had the best defensive record in the league last season, conceding only 27 goals in 26 matches.

Meanwhile, Danny Hay has landed his first job since opting not to continue as All Whites head coach in controversial circumstances late last year.

Hay has been announced as Perth Soccer Club’s head coach. The club’s men’s team plays in Western Australia’s National Premier Leagues competition – the state’s top football league.

Hay was coach of the All Whites for two years from 2019, but in October last year he was invited to re-apply for the job as head coach after a review of their World Cup campaign noted there was a ‘‘lack of alignment’’ between the All Whites coaching staff and New Zealand Football’s high performance department.