Whittingham backs '˜first class' Allen to show his worth

The physio was yesterday appointed as the Pompey boss’ number two, having taken on a leading role in the club set-up since the turn of the year.

Allen has been instrumental in player recruitment, using his contacts to bring in the likes of David Connolly, Patrick Agyemang and Yassin Moutaouakil.

Similarly, this summer he has worked alongside Whittingham in the construction of his playing squad for League Two.

That influence has convinced the Blues manager to give Allen the job, a vacancy created by Andy Awford’s decision to return as Academy manager.

Whittingham now intends to appoint a first-team coach, while Allen will combine his role with his physio work.

Whittingham said: ‘Steve has done tremendous work for me since I became caretaker and even more so since early January in terms of where we are going to be, recruiting and bringing players in.

‘The role of assistant manager really is to do those sorts of things.

‘Then you have a first-team coach to aid you with the coaching, so that’s the line we will be going down.

‘Steve is highly skilful as a physio and head of sports medicine and also has the ability to recruit and organise – but stuff on the field will be left to me and my first-team coach.

‘He is first-class in and around the changing room with the players, he is first-class as a physio and what I have found out more and more as the season has progressed is his recruiting, the contacts he’s got and dealing with agents and players.

‘He was in demand from some very, very big clubs but Steve has been bitten big time with the Pompey bug.’