A new goalkeeping coach has followed Paul Simpson through the door at Brunton Park less than 24 hours after the manager was appointed.
Paul Gerrard takes over as first-team keeper coach with immediate effect after Dan Hanford left the role earlier in the week.
Gerrard, 49, played over 350 professional appearances to his name after starting with Oldham and going on to serve Everton, Oxford, Ipswich, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest., before making the move to Nottingham a permanent one in 2004.
He started his coaching career in 2010 where his playing days had begun – Oldham Athletic and since then he’s worked with keepers at Shrewsbury and most recently with Doncaster.
New manager Simpson said: “Paul is very experienced, both as a player and as a goalkeeper coach.
“I think it’s a specialist position and that’s why I wanted to address it quickly. Mar Howard has taken the coaching on for the keepers since Dan left, but I want him to focus on being a goalkeeper.
“He doesn’t need the additional responsibility of planning the sessions, and things like that.
“They’re strange, goalkeepers, a bunch on their own. You need somebody who’s got that knowledge to be able to work with them and do that sort of stuff.
“Paul is an excellent coach, he comes highly recommended, and I know he’ll be a positive addition at a time when that’s exactly what we need.
“I think we’ve got some good young keepers, and we have Magnus and Mark, so we’ve got to give them the expert help they need.
“Paul brings that, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
