Wrens sign top coach

Rainworth MW manager Kevin Gee has secured the services of a top class coach to assist with the development of the Kirklington Road club, writes Gordon Foster.

Former professional Ian Whyte has joined Gee's backroom staff at the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South club.

‘Chalkie’, as he is better known, joins Gee's staff immediately and will be alongside the manager in the dugout for this weekend's home fixture with Newcastle Town.

The former Norwich City and Scunthorpe player is probably better known for his academy work and senior youth development roles at Sheffield United, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Portsmouth where he worked alongside Paul Hart.

In 2011 he completed his A licence refresher course and this year the LMA and Prozone Evaluating performance course.

Gee said: "I’m delighted that Ian has decided to join up with us,and I’ve already seen in the short space of time that he's been working with me that he will play a major role in the continuing development of the club.

"It is very much a role that will take time to develop as the season progresses. One could say that Ian's CV is probably a little over-qualified for the immediate role within the club with his experiences in the professional game and at youth development level.

"But it is very much a transitional period in terms of Ian's own long term personal goals. So at the moment it suits both myself and Ian that he works with us at the club until the end of the season. Then we can sit down and look at the bigger picture to see how the relationship and everything else is moving forward.

"Ian will come in to the club on a dual purpose role, firstly to assist me on match days, but he will also become the first team coach. He's also looking forward to seeing our own development group and the infrastructure we have started to put in place there to continue to develop our own crop of players that will be pushing into our 1st team over the next couple of seasons.

Gee added: "I have not rushed to increase the backroom staff at the club as your have to make sure you have the right people around you that share your common goals and vision. But with the backing of the chairman and committee I just felt that now is the right time to bring in another member to the team, and I’m looking forward to working with Ian more closely over the next few months to continue the development our club."