SWINDON Town have appointed Paul Jewell as their new director of football.

Jewell, who worked as Town boss Richie Wellens' assistant at Oldham Athletic, will oversee recruitment and assist Wellens with general football operations at the Energy Check County Ground.

On joining Swindon, Jewell told the club website: "When Richie called me about the job he basically asked: would I help him? And I said I would in any way I can. The job is full of pressure and I just said, if I could take some of the pressure off him with agents, watching games or in any way I can then I would.

“You’d have to ask Richie whether it’ll be a help to him, the fact that he asked me to come in it makes you feel good about yourself.

“It’s an opportunity that is coincidental because I played with the Chairman and have seen him from time to time after playing together at Bradford a long time ago, so hopefully, I can help, Lee, Richie and the club improve. That’s what I’m hoping to do.”

Wellens added: "I think one of the main strengths Paul can bring is the analysis in the recruitment of players. One of the most draining things you can have as a manager is working with agents, having players thrown at you all the time.

“It allows me to concentrate on the players we’ve got. I can spend more time with them on the training ground, and then speak with Paul regarding players that could come in and narrow it down to the good ones. We want to try and get them in rather than the mass quantity that get thrown at you."

Jewell had a distinguished career as a manager. He had a spell in charge of Bradford City where he won promotion to the Premier League in 1999 and kept them up.

He then had a spell at Wigan Athletic between 2001-2007 where he also guided the Latics to the Premier League in 2005 and took them to the League Cup final in 2006, losing 4-0 to Manchester United.

Jewell also had spells in charge of Derby County and Ipswich Town.