Two new coaches join Ladies’ backroom staff

CHELTENHAM Town Ladies have appointed two new first team coaches and a new goalkeeping coach as part of a backroom reshuffle by manager Tom Davies.

Callum Wands has left to take a role within the men’s academy set-up, but he will now act as a coaching mentor for the Ladies.

His place has been taken by Phil Pimlott, who will join Morgan Hallett in supporting Davies.

Pimlott, 36, is a Level 2 qualified coach who is also manager of the Army Medical Services FC Women’s and assistant coach for the Army Reservist FC Men’s side.

He has previously worked as assistant coach at Bromyard FC.

Ross Fawcett, who has previously worked for Chelsea, Rangers, Club Football Beijing and Fortuna 05 Vienna, has also joined Cheltenham as a coach.

The 31-year-old is A Licence qualified and an Elite A Licence candidate.

Meanwhile, Dene Field has replaced outgoing goalkeeping coach Alyta Norman.

Field, 23, runs the University of Gloucestershire Men’s second team and also holds the Level 2 qualification.

Cheltenham are due to return to action at Exeter City in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup first round proper on December 13 (2pm).

The club’s Development team, managed by Matt Bedford, have also appointed a new coach in Chelsie Savins, who joins Jess Hawkins in the same role.

Savins, 28, is Level 2 qualified and works for the Football Association.

She has previously been at QPR, London-based Princes Park Youth and Brackley Town.

The players of both teams have continued to work hard during lockdown, with performance analysis sessions, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and social gatherings, all carried out remotely via Zoom with players remaining at home or university.

“We’ve still been having a lot of contact time,” first team boss Davies said.

“We all just want to get back to it.”