5:13pm Monday 6th July 2009
CRYSTAL Palace have officially confirmed the appointments of Chris Short and Ronnie Jepson to the Selhurst Park backroom staff.
Short has joined as the new first team fitness coach, while Jepson has joined as development coach.
Kevin Randall has become the new chief scout following the departure of Allan Gemmell.
Neil Warnock told the club’s website: “I am delighted to get all of these changes in place ahead of the new season.
“Chris is somebody who I have known for many years.
“He is a total professional and is dedicated to the fitness programme and he knows how I work.
“With Ronnie I wanted a reserve team manager and he fills the criteria.
“He will be a big asset to the club and the players that he will be looking after and he will also be vital in nurturing our young players.”
Despite being primarily the reserve team manager, Jepson has been given the title of development coach, a role which Warnock believes is much broader than looking after the second string.
He explained: “We want him Ronnie to concentrate on the players between the ages of 17 and 22 because we feel we have to bring these players through more, make them better.
“The only way that is going to happen is by spending more time at the training ground, so Ronnie is going to take that on.”
Other news to come from the training ground has been the appointment of Randall as the new chief scout.
Warnock added: “Kevin steps in at difficult time, what with the departure of Allan Gemmell, but I know him from Sheffield United where he did a great job.
“He will not actually be based down here but up north and will travel down occasionally.
“I don't think being chief scout it will do us any harm with him being based up north.”
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