Former Portsmouth, West Ham and Birmingham coach Paul Groves swaps Maccabi Haifa for non-league Gloucester City

The 54-year-old, who was a key figure in Harry Redknapp’s coaching set-up at Fratton Park, has been appointed the new manager of the National League North side.

He left his assistant manager’s job at the Haifa International Stadium last week by mutual consent – a ground that has a 30,780 capacity.

Groves will now be in the dugout for Tigers’ next game against Curzon Ashton on Saturday, with the Nash’s home capable of hosting 3,000 fans.

The former Grimsby player was part of the Pompey coaching set-up that helped the club win the 2008 FA Cup, record their highest-ever Premier League finish and compete in elite European competition for the first time.

He also served under Tony Adams, Paul Hart and Avram Grant – and even took temporary charge of the first team following Hart’s departure.

Groves followed Grant to West Ham in 2010 and has had various other roles at Bournemouth, Crawley, Bristol City, Birmingham – where he was reunited with Redknapp – and Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC.

He moved to Maccabi Haifa in June 2019 and will now take charge of a Gloucester City side that is currently top of National League North.

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