A safe pair of hands

After yesterday's announcement that Noel Mitchell will join his coaching staff, Whitey Anderson has today confirmed completion of his backroom team for next season with the good news that Willie Neary is to remain for a fifth season as goalkeeping coach.

In Willie's first season 2011/12 he was a member of the Championship 1-winning backroom team (pictured here with the trophy and son Tyler). He will now be renewing his successful partnership with Alvin Rouse which saw the big Barbadian keep 20 clean sheets in our first season in the Premiership.

Whitey commented, "I'm very pleased that Willie has agreed to stay on as I know he was considering his position due to work commitments. Goalkeeping coach is a vital part of the coaching structure and, with the recent changes in my backroom team, it's important to me with his experience of three seasons in the Premiership that Willie stays and keeps some continuity into next season. He is an invaluable source of advice to me and is popular with the keepers and the rest of the squad. I am also delighted to confirm that Nicky Kilpatrick and Roger Haveron, two men with many years combined experience at the club, will be my kitmen next season."