Bristol Rovers are expanding Kevin Maher's role into taking charge of the development squad, Bristol Live understands.
Maher has served as first-team coach since being brought to the club by Graham Coughlan in the summer of 2019, working under the Irishman, Ben Garner, Paul Tisdale and Joey Barton.
Last month, goalkeeper coach David Coles and first-team coach Jack Mesure, who had been Garner's assistant, left Rovers along with head of medical Miles Warren, head of sport science Alun Andrews and development squad manager Lee Mansell.
But Maher is being kept on in north Bristol and will now lead the development squad - in effect the Rovers' Under-23s or reserve team - as well as maintaining his role in the first-team set-up.
There had been fears that the exit of club legend Mansell would lead to that area of the club being disbanded, but Maher's move coupled with new contracts for Louis Tomlinson, Ollie Hulbert and professional deals for teenagers Sam Heal, Kinsly Murray and Joe Budd should put those concerns to bed.
The development squad provides a bridge between the academy, under Chris Hargreaves, and the first-team with optimism within north Bristol that a number of young talent can make the step up in the coming years.
Goalkeeper Jed Ward made his first-team debut in the final game of last season while Zain Walker and Pablo Martinez saw significant gametime towards the end of the campaign.
It's unclear if Barton will add his direct first-team staff alongside Maher, Clint Hill and Andy Mangan, but does need a goalkeeper coach with former Liverpool stopper Tony Warner, most recently of Accrington Stanley, linked.
There are also plans for his own strength and conditioning and medical experts to replace Andrews and Warren.
