New Southampton manager Claude Puel feels as though the backroom staff members Pascal Plancque and Eric Black will be key additions to the club.
The two join goalkeeping coach Dave Watson who committed his future to the club after the resignation of Sammy Lee. They also replace Jan Kluitenberg and Erwin Koeman as the two followed former Saints boss Ronald Koeman to Everton.
Plancque was formerly head of the RC Lens training centre and had his last managerial job in 2012 where he was the head coach of Boulogne. Plancque has also worked with Claude Puel before during his time at Lille.
Plancque was also linked with a move to PSG to join their backroom staff but the new Southampton assistant manager opted for the south coast of England instead.
As for Eric Black, the Scotsman has been caretaker manager for an array of English clubs; most recently at Aston Villa this year after the sacking of their boss Remi Garde.
This is Black’s first job as an assistant manager and here is what Claude Puel had to say on him and Plancque speaking with the club’s official website:
I keep all the structure and the organisation around the team and I come with Eric Black. People know Eric Black. For me, he speaks French also and he can translate if I have just a little problem to speak at the beginning. He’s a very good assistant manager. He knows very well the Premier League, he knows the work and it’s important for me to come with a good person, a very good staff. I come also with Pascal Plancque. He was my assistant at Lille. He knows me, he knows the exercise, he knows the work and its very good to improve the young players, to make specific training with the young players, because it is going to be important to develop and to progress these players.
Puel, Black and Plancque will all be fully unveiled to the St Mary’s faithful on Sunday 7th August as they face Spanish side Athletic Club in the club’s final friendly before the domestic season begins.
