CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC on Monday announced the appointment of Englishman Paul Groves as Assistant Coach ahead of its title defence in the upcoming 2018-19 Indian Super League (ISL) season.
The 52-year-old Groves, who was last working as first-team coach at Birmingham City last season, replaces compatriot Mark Lillis.
Groves was reunited with Chennaiyin FC Head Coach John Gregory and Sports Scientist Dr Niall Clark, having worked with the two at Crawley Town in England's League One in the 2014-15 season as first-team coach.
Groves joins the duo who signed a one-year extension earlier this year after having guided the club to its second ISL title in March.
"I am looking forward to working with John and Niall again and excited about working in India for the first time'', Groves said.
Chennaiyin FC has a great mix of foreign and Indian players and the squad was shaping up well for the coming season.
''I am looking forward to helping the club defend the ISL title and progress as far as possible in the debut AFC Cup campaign'', he added.