New Watford boss Gianfranco Zola is 'assessing' which coaching staff will stay

Alec Chamberlain will remain as Watford's goalkeeping coach Alec Chamberlain will remain as Watford's goalkeeping coach

Gianfranco Zola says he is still assessing which backroom staff he wants to keep at Watford but the club's chief executive has confirmed the arrival of two new coaches.

The Watford Observer revealed on Monday that assistant manager Ian Woan, first team coach Tony Loughlan and head of medical Dave Hart were all set to leave the Hornets, and that Dodo Sormani and Giancarlo Corradini would be coming in.

Zola was appointed Watford manager, although the title may change to head coach, on Saturday and last night was his first press conference at Vicarage Road.

He confirmed: "I am bringing some people with me and I am also keeping some that were already here.

"We are working on that and I will be more precise in the next few days. At the moment this is the situation because I only came in at the last minute and we only had a few days to prepare. We are assessing the situation.

"The fitness coach Matt Springham (sports scientist) and also Alec Chamberlain, the goalkeeper coach, are staying with us and also more staff - but I do not have all the names right now to give to you.

"I will also bring in a couple of people from Italy. At the moment I am evaluating the situation and considering everything to allow us to become confident in the environment before being more precise."

We spoke to Watford's new chief executive Scott Duxbury after Zola's press conference and he confirmed Sormani and Corradini have joined the club.

"It is just those two but they have worked with some big names and are meant to be top class coaches," Duxbury said.

The former West Ham United CEO stated he was unable to confirm the departures of Woan, Loughlan and Hart though.

He said: "I am not sure to be honest. Gianfranco wasn't trying to be evasive [during his press conference]. He wanted some of his own people and he is evaluating who is going to stay.

"He wants a healthy mix of the existing staff with his own staff as well, so I can't answer that one because I am not sure if he has made his mind up yet."

You can see our live blog from last night here and there will be more quotes from Zola and Duxbury published during the course of today and also in this week's Watford Observer.

Comments(12)

AngelHornet says...
12:27pm Wed 11 Jul 12

He wants a healthy mix of the existing staff with his own staff as well

A very wise move!

D.unstable says...
12:35pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Cagliari playmaker Andrea Cossu's agent has rubbished rumours linking him with a move to Watford under new manager Gianfranco Zola.

Although different subject the above has a mention on Sky. Not sure if we need a player at the club who wears a snood anyhow (think that is what it is called)

petsoundsnick says...
12:59pm Wed 11 Jul 12

D.unstable wrote:
Cagliari playmaker Andrea Cossu's agent has rubbished rumours linking him with a move to Watford under new manager Gianfranco Zola.

Although different subject the above has a mention on Sky. Not sure if we need a player at the club who wears a snood anyhow (think that is what it is called)
Quite right, because it has been proven that any player who wears a snood is technically and physically inferior to the other players who are man enough to take to a field without a snood. If you were a snood, your performance drops by 20-30%, your ability to create a chance, see a pass, score a goal, well its all gone.

Im sure whether a player does or does not wear a snood is top of the agenda when deciding the criteria for which players we need to sign.

Seriously. Have a look at yourself.

D.unstable says...
1:48pm Wed 11 Jul 12

petsoundsnick wrote:
D.unstable wrote: Cagliari playmaker Andrea Cossu's agent has rubbished rumours linking him with a move to Watford under new manager Gianfranco Zola. Although different subject the above has a mention on Sky. Not sure if we need a player at the club who wears a snood anyhow (think that is what it is called)
Quite right, because it has been proven that any player who wears a snood is technically and physically inferior to the other players who are man enough to take to a field without a snood. If you were a snood, your performance drops by 20-30%, your ability to create a chance, see a pass, score a goal, well its all gone. Im sure whether a player does or does not wear a snood is top of the agenda when deciding the criteria for which players we need to sign. Seriously. Have a look at yourself.
I bet you wear a snood!!!

JohnnyHornet says...
2:22pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Well so far so good, having seen a bit of the interview on Sky yesterday, my only concern is the " Copello syndrome " where certain elements are lost in translation, lets hope not.

Harrydownunder says...
3:09pm Wed 11 Jul 12

this quote worries me a little:
"It is just those two but they have worked with some big names and are meant to be top class coaches," Duxbury said.

lutondown says...
3:12pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Some serious nit picking going on.
Zolas teaching the players how to pass the ball, if he can get that across speaking Swahili and wearing a snood, he will do me.

SAHornet says...
4:02pm Wed 11 Jul 12

lutondown wrote:
Some serious nit picking going on.
Zolas teaching the players how to pass the ball, if he can get that across speaking Swahili and wearing a snood, he will do me.
I had a lovely snood this afternoon, LD. Was reading my paper and next thing I knew it was an hour later. Ahhhhhh

buckler says...
4:03pm Wed 11 Jul 12

Chamberlain hanging on till bus pass days!

lutondown says...
4:34pm Wed 11 Jul 12

SAHornet wrote:
lutondown wrote:
Some serious nit picking going on.
Zolas teaching the players how to pass the ball, if he can get that across speaking Swahili and wearing a snood, he will do me.
I had a lovely snood this afternoon, LD. Was reading my paper and next thing I knew it was an hour later. Ahhhhhh
Strange you should say that SAH, I was just starting to read the taming of the Snood in Afrikaans when I too nodded off, dreaming pleasantly of a Watford team playing in a proper stadium, playing sexy football, with a vocal crowd. Then I woke up with a start with an annoying fly buzzing around my head. Got the paper and whacked the blighter, wish it was as simples with some of the posters stuck in a time warp with Bas

Holly68 says...
10:18pm Wed 11 Jul 12

It would of been funny if the title had read "Zola to decide which FANS are to stay" LOL

Roger Joslyn says...
11:05pm Wed 11 Jul 12

AngelHornet wrote:
He wants a healthy mix of the existing staff with his own staff as well

A very wise move!
Wise? If he's involved, I'm giving back my Season Ticket.

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