Town have recruited Matt Allen from Tottenham Hotspur to take the role of head of athletic performance, effectively taking over from Andy Costin, who recently left his position as head of sports science and insights.

Allen, who will work under head of performance Andy Rolls, began work at the club last week and was with the squad for the opening pre-season friendly at Felixstowe & Walton on Saturday.

“The chance to come in and help the club ahead of what we know will be a demanding Championship season is one I couldn’t turn down,” Allen told the club site.

“I worked with Kieran McKenna seven or eight years ago at Tottenham and we have kept in contact ever since.

“He is extremely diligent in everything he does and his level of detail is unmatched. So the chance to come in and help him and supplement the group was something I am really excited by.

“I used to live in the area a good few years ago, so I know how big the club is and what it means to everyone here.

“I know the quality and high standards expected here and when this opportunity was presented to me it was one I couldn’t say no to.”

Manager McKenna added: “Matt’s a top-level practitioner with more than a decade’s experience at Tottenham Hotspur, working with different managers and in a really strong academy regime, which he was heading up.

“He is excellent from a sports science and preparation point of view but he’s also a really good person who fits in with the values of our club and within our staff group.

“He is a really good fit for us, we’re delighted to have him with us and he will improve our work here day-to-day.”

UKSCA-accredited strength and conditioning coach Allen had been with Spurs for 13 years and a half years, initially as a sports science intern and then working as head of academy physical development from July 2010, and from July 2021 also as the women’s head of performance.

Prior to that, Allen, who was with Norwich City as a schoolboy midfielder, had had a spell at Nottingham Forest as an intern having studied at Nottingham University.

Last year, Allen spoke to the Pacey Performance Podcast about his career and developing young Premier League talent.

Photo: TWTD

NthQldITFC added 16:47 - Jul 5 Welcome Matt.
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Gforce added 17:09 - Jul 5 S○d this,where's the new players ?? I'm getting very impatient 😒
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Flamencaman added 18:17 - Jul 5 GForce calm before the storm
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Flamencaman added 18:18 - Jul 5 GForce calm before the storm
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Sefton_Blue added 19:42 - Jul 5 Great addition to the staff. I'm unbothered by a lack of signings. McKenna & Ashton will only do business if it's in the best interests of the club.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 21:08 - Jul 5 I agree Sefton Blue. This sort of thing is massive in terms of the building blocks our club needs. We'll never know how much value an appointment like this compares to a £1m signing. I'm old enough to remember when it was quite normal for us to sign no new players during a summer. Happened right up until the 1990s. But we've already made one major player signing anyway.

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thatsbonkers added 21:36 - Jul 5 MattAllen is better known for his low cost clothes shops but back McKenna's judgement every time.
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ITFCfan1878X added 23:50 - Jul 5 Best of luck Matt, looks like a great appointment from Kieran and the Club!
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Wussinwhiteboots added 23:59 - Jul 5 Thatsbonkers, that rings a bell with me. If I remember correctly, he supplied shell suits to the Preston North End supporters club.
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SpiritOfJohn added 06:29 - Jul 6 Thankfully, the days when we recruited the Wigan kit man into a coaching role are long gone...
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Marcus added 10:34 - Jul 8 A year ago we were building the club into a team ready for the Championship. Now we are building towards the Premier League. We last had a fitness coach (Simon Thadani) when Burley was in charge, Magilton made the most of him but Keane released him. With new methodologies and Opta stats analysis the role has changed towards individual development plans. It's also great to have someone who has experience working at the top level so can understand the standards required for us to progress towards that level.

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