Express & Star

West Brom appoint Jonathan Gould to staff

West Brom have appointed Jonathan Gould as the club's new goalkeeping coach.

Published

Gould, the son of former Baggies boss Bobby, has joined from a coaching role with New Zealand side Wellington Phoenix.

As a player, he notably made more 150 appearances for Celtic, featured in the Premier League with Coventry City.

He also claimed two international caps for Scotland, making their 1998 World Cup squad.

He was also on the books at Albion for a short period in 1992, yet did not make an appearance, and lined up on loan under current boss Tony Pulis at Gillingham.

Having spent the best part of ten years Down Under occupying a number of roles, Gould is now returning to England's top flight to open a fresh chapter at the Hawthorns.

The 46-year-old will start his new position with the Baggies tomorrow, taking up the role vacated by Dean Kiely when he left the club last month.

Gould's arrival means Albion's professional development phase goalkeeping coach Mark Naylor will now revert to his role working with the club's brightest young talent, including the likes of Jack Rose.

Naylor stepped into the void in early January, working predominantly with Ben Foster and Boaz Myhill, and has revelled in the role.

He has helped the Baggies keep five clean sheets in his eight games, during which the club have tasted defeat just once.

And director of football administration Richard Garlick has been quick to praise Naylor, saying: "This is no reflection on the job Mark has done.

"He has really stepped up and done a sterling job and has shown all the attributes we were always confident he possessed.

"I know from talking to Tony that he, too, has been really impressed with him. But he's obviously recruited a more experienced coach in Jonathan."

Meanwhile, Albion defender Bradley Garmston has extended his stay at League One side Gillingham for a further month.

The left-back signed an initial one month deal on January 16, but an agreement has been made between the two clubs to allow the 21-year-old to remain at the Priestfield Stadium until March 15.

Garmston, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, has made seven appearances for the Gills and scored his first goal during Saturday's 4-2 home win over Milton Keynes Dons.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.