TONY Mowbray is beginning to lay down the foundations for this tenure as Sky Blues managers after appointing Mark Venus and Jamie Clapham as part of his backroom staff at the Ricoh Arena.
Having just signed a two-year deal to become the club’s permanent manager, Mowbray has wasted no time in building the required infrastrucuture he feels needs to be in place to achieve his aims and ambitions with the Sky Blues.
As expected, former Wolves defender Venus comes in as the club’s new technical director.
He will be tasked with overseeing the recruitment and the footballing structure having worked with Mowbray at both West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough.
And former Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town and Birmingham City full-back Clapham will take up a coaching role at the club having worked under Mowbray at Middlesbrough.
Neil MacFarlane will remain in his current role as assistant manager, a role he has held since Steven Pressley’s appointment.
“These appointments are hopefully the first of many steps to bringing this club forward and pushing for a successful 2015/16 campaign and beyond,” said Mowbray.
“If you look at the work I did at Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion, there is now a successful structure in place at those clubs and this is what I want to replicate here.
“Mark is someone I’ve worked with for many years and have enjoyed a lot of success with, and Jamie is someone who impressed me with his coaching skills and development during my time at Middlesbrough.”
“Throughout my discussions with the club’s owners and the board, the main areas I highlighted were the structure and the recruitment at the club.
“If we’re going to achieve our aims and ambitions, it is important not to just focus on the pitch but also the work we do off it.”