Express & Star

Wayne Jacobs named assistant head coach as role at West Brom made official

Wayne Jacobs has been appointed as a second assistant head coach to Darren Moore as his position in the backroom staff is made official.

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Wayne Jacobs. Photo: WBA

Jacobs was immediately parachuted into the club in a part-time role by Moore when he was made caretaker boss in April.

The 49-year-old former Bradford assistant manager, who played alongside Moore at the Bantams, has been helping his former team-mate ever since.

When Moore was given the head coach role full-time at the start of the summer he confirmed that he wanted Jacobs to play some role in his backroom staff, but that it had not yet been decided.

Moore then waited all summer to bring in experienced assistant Graeme Jones as his No.2 on the eve of the season, with Jones turning down a new contract at Belgium.

Jacobs has now also been appointed as an assistant head coach, although his role differs slightly to Jones’s.

While the former Swansea and Everton assistant is primarily involved in the day-to-day coaching of the side at the Palm training ground, Jacobs takes a look at matters from one step back.

A long-term and close friend of Moore’s, he is a trusted advisor who offers the head coach another pair of eyes.

During games, he is often sat up in the stands to get a bird’s eye view of proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Baggies have promoted Andy Leaver to head up their medical department following the departure of Director of Performance Mark Gillett to Nottingham Forest.

Leaver was Gillett’s understudy, but is now in charge of the five-strong team as Head of Sports Science and Medicine.

He joined the Baggies in 2012 after working for 10 years in top-flight rugby with London Irish and Bath. Before that, he worked in West Ham’s academy.