NEW Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Lambert has expressed his delight at the experienced coaching staff he has put together.

Former Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom boss Alan Irvine will act as his assistant manager.

And Lambert, who previously was in charge of Aston Villa, said: “We’ve known each other for a while and when I was manager of Aston Villa, and he was manager of West Brom, we came across each other. We just got on well.

“He’s a really good coach and somebody I’ll be looking to lean on because he’s been at this club before.”

Ex-Leicester City boss Rob Kelly has been installed as first-team coach and, like Irvine, is returning to Rovers.

Kelly, 50, joined the club in 1997 and held the roles of under-19s coach, head of youth coaching and assistant reserve team manager to Tony Parkes.

Irvine, 57, made 62 appearances for Rovers between 1989 and 1992 and, after retiring, joined the club’s coaching staff, working alongside Terry Darracott in the youth team.

And Lambert, who has also managed Wycombe Wanderers and Norwich City, said: “They’ll know exactly what a manager goes through because they know exactly what it is like.

“They know the stresses that come your way and I know they are two good coaches as well.”

The all-new Rovers backroom team is completed by goalkeeping coach Laurence Batty, 51, who Lambert worked with previously.

“Laurence I had at Wycombe and Norwich with me, so he knows me well as well,” said Lambert.

“I think the four of us are strong.”