Former Watford defender Paul Robinson has been appointed assistant senior professional development coach at Birmingham City.

His role will see him work alongside Richard Beale with the club’s Under-23 and development squad, with an aim to helping players progress to the senior set-up.

Robinson finished his career at Birmingham at the end of last season, having been in the professional game for 22 years.

The 39-year-old is fondly remembered at Vicarage Road after playing 252 times in a seven-year stay at the club.

Progression into Birmingham’s coaching set-up was always likely for Robinson after he spent time working with the club’s youth set-up over the past season.

He was part of the team which helped Watford earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history in 1999.

The following season saw Robinson play 32 times as Watford finished bottom of the table and he remained at the club until 2003.