Pulis eyes first backroom staff signing

Craig Gardner could be the first signing of the Tony Pulis era at Hillsborough.

Gardner, 33, recently left the Birmingham coaching staff and reports are indicating that he may well join up with Pulis as part of his new backroom team at S6.

The former Birmingham and Villa midfielder retired from football in the summer to take up a role as first-team coach at St Andrew’s but has now exited the club and is being linked with a move to Wednesday.

Gardner played under Pulis when he was in charge at West Brom and the new Wednesday boss said at today’s press conference: “I always like to bring one young coach with me, a coach that can work on the academy side.

“I think it’s important that, because I won’t have a lot of time for the academy, that I have someone who knows the best players in the academy.

“They know how the academy is set up, I think the link between the academy and the first-team is important. Neil Thompson has joined in today and he will be part of that.”

Gardner’s brother, Gary, made four appearances for Wednesday in early 2014 while on a month’s loan from Villa.

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