Colchester United have appointed Darren Smith as their new goalkeeping coach.
Smith moves to the U's after working with the Acadmey keepers at Ipswich Town, and it was former U's and Town stopper Dean Gerken who got the two parties talking.
"It all came about through Gerks really," Smith told the U's official website.
"He came in and trained with me in the summer before signing here, and then knowing that I was looking for a new challenge and something to get my teeth into, asked if it was something that tickled my fancy.
"It escalated from there in the space of seven to ten days. I came in and had a chat with John and Tony about what the club is trying to build and where they want to go going forward and that really impressed me.
"From that moment, my mind was made up and the rest is history."
Darren will be working with the first team keepers, (Gerken, Ethan Ross and Bailey Vose), here at the U's, and is sure that Dean can still learn and get better despite being an experienced keeper alreeady.
"I want to keep him sharp, keep on improving him and get him to the levels I know he can get to. I'm also here to get the younger two lads pushing Dean as hard as possible.
"Yes Dean has got the shirt at the moment, but it's my job to try and improve Ethan and Bailey to the point where the Gaffer can pick any one of the three to play."