Blues caretaker-manager Bryan Klug says working with the first team for the next four games will be a great experience for young coaches Gerard Nash and Chris Hogg, who will be assisting him during his spell in charge along with currently injured skipper Luke Chambers.

Dubliner Nash, 31, whose career as a player was ended by a succession of knee injuries after only one sub appearance for the Blues and a handful of games on loan at Hartlepool and Southend has been coaching the U23s assisted by 33-year-old Hogg.

Recruited from York City by his future father-in-law George Burley in 2001 having played for England at various youth levels, Hogg never broke into Town side but went on to have an impressive career in Scotland, playing for both Tony Mowbray and Terry Butcher with Hibernian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle before returning to Suffolk and Needham Market.

“In the last five or six years a big part of my job, certainly in the 18 months, to help develop coaches as well and, as I’ve said, it would be a real dream for me if not only are producing good players but we’re also producing good coaches, who understand what this club’s about and how we go about things and can guide in the future,” Klug said.

“Those two lads have been here a few years, they’re ex-players, we have a few working in the academy and they understand the club.

“They’re modern, not an old fossil like me, and it’s a great opportunity for them, it’s a learning thing for them.

“I talked to the players about that and everything I do is about trying to always be the best that you can and make yourself better. These lads they buy into that and it’ll be a great experience for them.

“We’ll all make mistakes, but it’s only a mistake if you don’t learn something from it. And that’s the way they approach it.

“It’s a great opportunity for them, also we’ve got the skipper who has ambitions to be a manager and he’s going to help me out and will deal with the senior players.

“It’s a situation that none of us want, obviously the want the club, because it’s a great club, and everybody to be [pulling in the same direction], but there’s the situation and as I said to the player, let’s get something out of this last month.”

Regarding captain Chambers’s involvement in his backroom team, Klug added: “He certainly didn’t need to be asked twice. He’s got a lot to offer, he’ll learn from this situation and he’ll certainly be able to help me and let me know what’s going on because in my role over the last year or so, I’ve probably only seen, as a supporter, four or five games.

“I was at Tilbury on Saturday watching the boys on loan [Jack Lankester and Brett McGavin who are with Bury Town] there, I’ve been at Bromley [watching Luke Woolfenden and Shane McLoughlin], I’ve been watching Aldershot [where Adam McDonnell and George Fowler were on loan before making their moves permanent in January], so I need as much help with putting as good a programme together as possible.

“He’s got a lot to offer, as has Skusey and all the senior lads. They’re all, at the moment, buying into it. That might be different when I name the team for Saturday, but there we go!”

With the likes of Alan Lee, Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and probably a number of others on the academy staff having ambitions to coach and manage at first-team level, Klug admits several of them might have wanted the roles handed to Nash and Hogg.

“There’s a few who are not talking to me at the moment, yeah!” he joked. “But they are all around and we have got a lot of knowledge and they all know [rather than] grumbling about it, come and tell me what you’re thinking.

”We have got loads of people who care about the football club and want to get involved and they’ll all get their chance, I’m sure.”

Geraint Williams was understood to be in the thinking for a role on his backroom team but the former midfielder, who has been working at the academy since before Christmas, is taking on some of Klug’s regular duties during his time with the first team.

“He has great experience,” the temporary boss added. “We brought him in but he’s only really working two days a week with the younger players.

“He did a fantastic job with Wales, he was part of their success story really, a big part of it and obviously another locally based man, an ex-player and a really, really good coach.

“At the moment while I’m off [doing this] I’m trusting him to look after that bit at the moment. But at various times as I come under more stress he’ll be there as a crutch!”

Photos: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 16:56 - Apr 12 good luck , respect .
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Southamptonblue added 08:45 - Apr 13 Is it really 17 years since Hogg first signed for us? God, I feel old.
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rozeeboy added 09:22 - Apr 13 Only getting to watch a few first team games a season must be what sucks about being one of the development staff, always elsewhere watching other matches, trying to find talent. But then over the last couple of years, I think many of us would have preferred watching Diss Town, Needham Market or Walsham-le-Willows.
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