football...arsenal

Arsenal fitness coach Tony Colbert has been moved sideways as part of the club’s backroom reshuffle.

Colbert will now take up a technical role in the coaching team following the arrival of former Liverpool head of fitness Darren Burgess.

Aussie Burgess has been appointed the club’s director of high performance after agreeing a move from Port Adelaide and will oversee the whole medical set-up.

Arsenal already have ex-Germany fitness guru Shad Forsythe as their head of athletic performance enhancement and Burgess has previously done a very similar role.

But the club wanted a shake-up behind the scenes and Burgess was strongly recommended to Arsene Wenger who is on board with the appointment.

Darren Burgess, formerly of Liverpool, is joining Arsenal (Photo: Liverpool FC)
Arsenal keeper coach Gerry Peyton is also understood to have signed a new contract along with the other members of the backroom staff whose deals mirror Wenger’s. They may yet strengthen that department.

It is also understood they are still looking at further appointments having already appointed Team Sky’s legal and commercial expert Huss Fahmy.

That could mean another technical appointment while they are also looking for an academy director while a former player with a good coaching background could be a popular choice.