Albion boss Sami Hyypia has confirmed his first-team coaching and medical team with Nathan Jones moving up to assistant manager.

Jones steps up from the role of first-team coach, with that position being filled by Joaquin Gomez – who has worked with the club’s academy and was part of the first-team coaching team last season.

Hyypia said: “I’ve been really impressed by Nathan and Joaquin since I arrived at the club – both are very good technical coaches. They are also extremely driven to succeed and very hardworking.

“They have shown me in the past two months that they are more than capable of filling these two position and that we have the right coaching credentials here already at the club.

“I’m delighted they have both accepted and now I am looking forward to working with them”

Jones and Gomez, along with goalkeeping coach Antti Niemi and strength and conditioning coach Tom Barnden, form Hyypia’s new backroom team.

Adam Brett has been appointed as the club’s new head of medical services – replacing Helge Riepenhof who leaves the club on September 1. Riepenhof is replaced by Dr Steven Lewis, who will join as club doctor from Fulham on September 2.

Brett, who joined Albion in January after seven years at Gloucester Rugby, has already made a positive impression at the club.

As previously reported by The Argus, Paul Winstanley has also joined the club’s recruitment team from Derby County. He takes up the position of player identification manager, working closely with David Burke and Hyypia.

He spent the past seven seasons working as head of recruitment at Derby under Nigel Clough, and as head analyst with Steve McClaren.

Hyypia added, “Adam has built a great rapport with the players and staff here. Together with Steven – who has very good credentials and experience from his time at Fulham – they will give us the medical support we need.

“Paul will come into the recruitment side, and work with David and I on identifying our main targets in the areas of the squad we want to strengthen in the future.”

Chief executive Paul Barber added: “I’d like to congratulate Nathan, Joaquin, Adam, Steven and Paul on their new positions. We are delighted with the team we now put in place with Sami.

“I would also like to place on record the club’s thanks to Helge for his hard work in helping us develop and recruit our first-class sports medicine department. “He also played a crucial role in the design of our new training ground and academy - and in the academy gaining category one status. On behalf of the chairman, board and entire club we thank him for his excellent work and wish him the very best for the future.”