New additions to backroom staff

There will be some new faces at West Ham United's Chadwell Heath training ground when the players return to begin their pre-season preparations this morning.

While new signings Scott Parker and Julien Faubert are the most high-profile arrivals, manager Alan Curbishley has also made a number of important additions to his coaching and backroom staff ahead of the new campaign.

As revealed on whufc.com last week, former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday defender Glynn Snodin has been appointed First Team Coach, with Kevin Keen reverting back to his previous role as Reserve Team Coach.

There have also been changes to the medical department. Nick Davies has arrived from Charlton Athletic as our new Head of Sports Science, while his former colleagues at The Valley, George Cooper and Dave Singleton, have been appointed Head of Physiotherapy and Reserve Team Physiotherapist respectively.

Masseur Darren Page has also headed from Charlton to join the staff, and Kit Manager Steve Rigby is already settled having replaced the retiring Eddie Gillam at the end of last season.

A number of staff members have also departed from Upton Park this summer, including Physiotherapist Steve Allen and Sports Scientist Niall Clark, who have both teamed up with former manager Alan Pardew at Charlton, Assistant Manager Keith Peacock and reserve coach Steve Brown.

Curbs says: "I'd like to welcome our new staff members and wish them all the best as they begin their careers at West Ham United.

"Obviously there is an irony in the fact that some of our new staff members have joined us from Charlton while others have headed in the opposite direction but, from my point of view, the only criteria our new additions have been selected on is their ability to do the job, and I am certain they will all prove their worth very quickly.

"Our aim is to beef up all departments behind the scenes at the Club, and this may not be the end of the changes that we make."