Chris Coleman has confirmed that he plans to bring in Kit Symons as part of his Welsh international coaching team – but his former Fulham team-mate is expected to only join on a part-time basis.
Coleman, who was unveiled as the successor to the late Gary Speed last week, is keen to bring in some new coaches to strengthen the existing Welsh set-up and Symons, who is currently doing an outstanding job with the Fulham academy, has already been mentioned as part of that team. Fulham would be unwilling to let their former centre back leave on a permanent basis and it is understood that Symons would also want to continue his work with the club’s under-18 side.
Speaking at the press conference to confirm his appointment, Coleman side:
I have a very close friendship with Kit. Like any manager, every job I’ve taken I’ve not gone in with a big axe, sacking people, but at the same time I like to bring in faces I know.
Coleman and Symons spent three years together as team-mates at Fulham before Coleman took his first job in management, succeeding Jean Tigana initially on a caretaker basis in 2002. Symons became a player-coach at Crystal Palace and was installed as a full-time member of the Selhurst Park coaching staff after his retirement, before standing in as a caretaker manager twice in 2003 and 2007. He was a caretaker again at Colchester a year later and was the bookies’ favourite to land the job, but lost out to Paul Lambert. Symons was appointed as a senior scout at Fulham in 2009 and also took responsibility for the youth team.
