PAUL Lambert has welcomed the arrival of trusted allies Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa after Villa recruited his “humble” helpers in time for the start of pre-season training on Thursday.

Culverhouse and Karsa continue their close six-year association with Lambert to become his assistant manager and head of football operations respectively.

All three introduced themselves to the Villa squad when the players reported back to Bodymoor Heath on Thursday, along with fellow newcomers Brett Holman and Karim El Ahmadi.

“Ian has been great as a coach and assistant manager while Gary has worked on another side of the game for me,” said Lambert.

 “It’s a structure that has worked well for us. I’m looking forward to working with them here as well. We’ve been with each other for a long time.

“We’ve had some success, which has been great, and we’ve had good days and bad days just like everyone else.

“But what is important for me is to trust people and I’ve got no worries whatsoever on that front.

I’ve been working with them right from back at Wycombe.

“They are both humble, which is a great trait in anybody. If the team is doing well that will be good enough for me and for them.

“I don’t think anybody is looking for self praise or anything like that. As long as the team is doing well and the club is moving in the right direction it will be great.”

Culverhouse played for ten years as a right-back at Norwich before embarking on a coaching career at Brighton, Barnet, Leyton Orient, Wycombe, Colchester and the Canaries.

“Ian is great on the coaching front and had a great playing career himself,” said Lambert.

“He knows the game and played at a high level and in massive games himself. He’s been brilliant for me.

Karsa takes on a newly created role at the club and his remit will include assisting Lambert with player recruitment and helping the manager with day to day first-team duties.

He started out as a coach and football and community officer at Enfield, held a similar position at Barnet before becoming Charlton’s head of academy recruitment.

Karsa moved to Wycombe in a youth role and has since worked as a football operations manager at Colchester and Norwich.

“He does a lot of things for me behind the scenes and takes a lot of stress off me,” said Lambert.

“If I need something done I know he can get it done and he can help things along. He’s great at that.

“I think we have a laugh, but we are also serious and we realize this is a workplace. You have to work when you are out on the training pitch and respect your place of work and do the business on a Saturday.

Gary Karsa born in London is of Cypriot origin his his late Father and Mother from Rizokarpasso and Peristeropiyi respectively

 

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