The Chronicle

Changes to back room staff ‘on hold’

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CHRIS Coleman has hinted he will add to his back room staff – but not until he has assessed those he already has.

Assistant manager Glynn Snodin left when Simon Grayson was sacked, and has been replaced by Kit Symons.

Coleman resigned as Wales manager in part because he wanted head of performanc­e Ryland Morgans and psychologi­st Ian Mitchell to be given full-time contracts after leaving Crystal Palace and Swansea City respective­ly.

“It is unsettling for people when a new manager comes in ,but I can only be honest and say it is something I have to look at, something I will have to judge for myself,” said the 47-year-old.

“I have some people who have worked with me. They know what I like and what I do and if there is an opportunit­y to bring in some fresh faces, then I will not be afraid to do that, but that is not to say that anyone who is already here does not have a part to play.

“If you keep doing what you have always done, you will get what you have always had. It is obvious we need to change.

“If I feel that is changing a couple of faces, then I will do that. But again, that will not be in the next 48 hours”

First, Coleman has to negotiate today’s Championsh­ip game at Aston Villa, where he will have to lean heavily on coach Robbie Stockdale, who was in caretaker charge for the 2-2 draw with Millwall. Symons watched from the director’s box but Coleman was in Newport, where he had promised to switch on the Christmas lights.

With Lamine Kone, Billy Jones, Jonny Williams, Duncan Watmore, Paddy McNair and Marc Wilson injured for the trip to Villa Park and Lee Cattermole suspended, options are limited.

Stockdale was promoted from the academy by Sam Allardyce, while Adrian Tucker became goalkeepin­g coach under Dick Advocaat. While the manager has changed, they have remained constants.

Coleman’s former Fulham teammates included ex-Sunderland players Andy Melville and Kevin Ball, both of whom he was in touch with last week. Ball is already at the club as an ambassador, but Coleman did not want to suggest Melville, who he described as one of his “closest friends”, will be joining them.

“Andy is doing a good job for Northampto­n in the scouting department,” he said. “I couldn’t say he’s coming to work here, that would be unprofessi­onal.”

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