Town have confirmed that Richard Hall has been appointed a full-time member of the coaching staff, as reported by TWTD last week. Hall's new role will see him working with the first team in addition to his duties with the academy.

Boss Jim Magilton, a team-mate of Hall at Southampton, told the club site: "Richard has joined the staff full-time this season and we'll be working with both the academy and the first team.

"We are looking at specialised coaching in every area of the pitch this year and Richard will be working at least one day a week with the defenders in the first team."

The 34-year-old ex-Kesgrave High School pupil and lifelong Town supporter was a trainee with the Blues in the late eighties but moved on to Scunthorpe before making a senior appearance.

A 1991 £200,000 transfer to Southampton led to 11 England U21 caps, but his career was ended prematurely by injury in 1999, two years after joining West Ham for £1.4 million.

Hall joined the Town academy coaching staff as a part-timer in 2001.

Town have continued pre-season preparations this week with fitness training in the morning and ball work in the afternoons. The Blues face Galway United away in their second friendly on Wednesday evening (KO 7.45pm).

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