Soccer

Paul Jewell and Dave Kemp named Tony Pulis’s assistants

Former Wigan and Derby manager Jewell out of football since Ipswich departure in 2012

Former Derby and Wigan boss Paul Jewell has been named as Tony Pulis’s assistant at West Brom. (Photograph: INPHO/Getty Images)
Former Derby and Wigan boss Paul Jewell has been named as Tony Pulis’s assistant at West Brom. (Photograph: INPHO/Getty Images)
Tue Jan 06 2015 - 12:21

Paul Jewell and Dave Kemp have been confirmed as Tony Pulis's new assistants at West Brom.

The duo are expected to share joint coaching responsibility in the new set-up at The Hawthorns. Gerry Francis is also expected to be appointed on a part-time basis and, along with Kemp, worked with Pulis at Stoke.

Kemp was Pulis's assistant at the Britannia Stadium and Crystal Palace and watched Albion's 1-1 draw at West Ham on New Year's Day, the day Pulis was named head coach. Carlo Nash, who played for Pulis at Stoke, is poised to be the Baggies' new goalkeeping coach.

“I don’t know what I’ve done to suffer Kempy again but I suppose I will have to put up with him,” said Pulis. “But the truth is that we have a working relationship which I value very highly - he knows what I want without even having to ask these days.

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“‘Jewely’ is someone I have known for a long time. We got to know each other on coaching courses as well as in opposition – he has massive experience and when I thought about what I wanted for this post, he fitted the bill perfectly.

“I’m delighted we have got him and I am sure the players will enjoy working with him. There are one or two other things we shall be putting in place over the next few days before everything is settled.”

The ex-Derby manager Jewell has been out of work since leaving as Ipswich manager in 2012 and, along with Kemp, has been confirmed as part of the new-look Baggies backroom team.

They will be in the dugout for Saturday’s Premier League visit of Hull, with Albion a point and a place above the bottom three. Pulis won his first game in charge on Saturday, a 7-0 thrashing of Gateshead in the FA Cup.

He swung the axe on Monday as the coaches Rob Kelly, Keith Downing and Dean Kiely left Albion, following the former head coach Alan Irvine after he was sacked last week, paving the way for his staff revamp.

“It is never a pleasant task making changes because it always means some fellow professionals have to leave the club,” added Pulis. “I would just like to say that while I only worked with Keith, Dean and Rob for a short time, they impressed me as top lads who I wish well for the future.”