Town have confirmed the appointment of Andy Costin as head of sports science, as revealed by TWTD a fortnight ago, while former Leicester City and Stevenage defender Jon Ashton (pictured) has joined the club as first-team fitness coach and director of football Dave Bowman has left Portman Road.

Costin departed Bristol City last month having joined the Robins as head of sports science and analysis in March last year. Prior to that he spent seven months at Stevenage as head of sports science.

Born in Gawler, South Australia, Costin was teaching PE before taking his career in its current direction in his late 20s.

Ashton no relation to incoming CEO Mark, started his career with Leicester but played most of his football for Stevenage, where he made 225 appearances and wore the captain's armband.

The 38-year-old, who also featured for Notts County (loan), Oxford United, Rushden & Diamonds, Grays Athletic, Crawley, Braintree and hometown club Nuneaton during his time as a player, returned to Broadhall Way as fitness coach in the summer of 2018.

“Both Jon and Andy are great additions to the support staff we are establishing,” Town’s recently-appointed director of performance Andy Rolls told the club website.

Town's previous fitness coach Jim Henry, whose official job title was head of athletic performance/sports science, left the club in November following friction with the club's football management team but was retained as a consultant with his contract up this summer. The Scottish former judo athlete, 69, has now formally departed Portman Road.

Bowman, 60, had been Town’s chief scout, although working under the job title director of football, since Mick McCarthy’s appointment in 2012 having also worked with the former Blues boss at his other clubs and also during his more recent spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland.

It would be little surprise if Bowman were to join McCarthy at Cardiff City this summer.

Elsewhere, former Blues defender John McGreal is the bookies' favourite for the vacant manager's role at Swindon Town, who were relegated to League Two during 2020/21.

McGreal, a close friend of Town boss Paul Cook from their days at Tranmere together, had appeared to be in the running for a role on the Blues' backroom team but, as previously reported, has been on the lookout for a club of his own.

Photo: Action Images

ringwoodblue added 20:15 - May 24 I know the back room staff play a vital role in the wider team but sorry, I can't get excited about it. We desperately need to make a big player signing to show our intent and help attract others. Thought Bradley was it but alas not.
1

runningout added 20:40 - May 24 Bit sad if you reckon Bradley was a big deal
1

Monkey_Blue added 20:48 - May 24 We don't need to make a big signing, we need the right players regardless of the profile. I would just prefer we keep, Bishop, dobra, wooflfenden, downes, Dozzell etc given we can attract players better or with higher ceilings. All of those guys have been told to “do one” by cook and who are we going to sign better on league one budgets for wages and in league one.

0

Londonblue58 added 20:52 - May 24 How good to get the backroom team going. Next it'll be good to start seeing the new team getting signed too.....they've a challenge supreme on their hands which we've got to believe they can do. How I wish this new team had inherited this first team - all needlessly let go by the last owner......unbelievable even to this day that he knew so little about knowing and keeping talent Bialkowski Cresswell, Mings, Webster, Clarke Waghorn, Hourihane, McGoldrick Marriott, Moore, Rhodes

3

Nobbysnuts added 21:10 - May 24 Plenty of signings off the pitch but none on it....worrying times...
0

ronnyd added 21:15 - May 24 Saxonblue74.. er manage? Delegation is key to the job.
0

Bluearmy_81 added 22:24 - May 24 Londonblue, even more staggering that fans just sat and watched and let it happen for years without protest. Cuckold like behaviour! "It's his club he can do what he wants..." was one of the most tragic things I've ever heard in football. 🤢🤮🤮🤮Never again...
1

armchaircritic59 added 00:31 - May 25 Just a reminder about for anyone expecting any transfer dealings to have been done or being imminent. Looks like the Premier and EFL transfer windows are not opening till Wednesday June 9th (not yet confirmed), so may have to be patient for a while longer.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 07:27 - May 25 Nobbysnuts , transfer window hasnt opened yet !
3

dirtydingusmagee added 07:35 - May 25 thats right Armchair, i do smile when some of the know it all critics and wannabe managers, show themselves to know next to nothing by making stupid comments .
1

warwickblue added 08:22 - May 25 When you consider the appalling injury list, turgid tactics and lack of flair over the past few seasons I actually don't mind how many new backroom staff we bring in.
0

geminimustang added 08:28 - May 25 And the teamsheet is? Only asking!
0

JewellintheTown added 09:25 - May 25 Slightly concerned with the levels Costin and Ashton have been working at, but will give the guys my full support until proven otherwise. Would have been nicer if they'd been associated with bigger clubs with more established systems and experience previously but that isn't the be all. I'm sure Mark Ashton knows what he's doing and what they're capable of. Backroom staff between them will have a big say in any new or existing players suitability. Makes sense to get them all in and up to speed first. Foundations first. Seems the sensible way to go.

1

gpstracker added 09:53 - May 25 More coaches than Beestons
2

Razor added 10:31 - May 25 I guess this will mean fewer and shorter sick notes-----some players had better watch out, always thought they got away with far too much under the previous regime. Onwargs and upwards!!
0

Orraman added 11:02 - May 25 I read that Bristol City fans voted for their ‘Champagne Moment of the Year' was when they heard that Ashton was leaving their club. Have to say that a lot of our back room additions as well as Ashton have come from a club that did not exactly set the Championship alight. We should all calm down a bit and be careful what we wish for as PC hasn't set a high standard so far

0

Sharkey added 17:01 - May 25 I bet McGreal is still hoping for a late call from Prenton Park.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls