Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk opens up on new coaches and the situation with Lee Bullen and Nicky Weaver
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Beattie, arriving as assistant manager, and goalkeeping coach Flahavan have worked with Monk before at a number of clubs, while first team coach Hughes is a long-time friend of the Owls boss.
The reshuffle meant there was no room for long-serving pair Lee Bullen and Nicky Weaver in the first team set-up. Both former Owls players, they have been moved into the youth set-up with Neil Thompson retaining his place in the senior stakes alongside sports science guru Tony Strudwick.
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Hide AdSpeaking for the first time on the coaching changes, Monk made clear it was an important change in how he wanted to deliver his ideal at Wednesday and thanked Bullen and Weaver for their service in what is coming up to a year with the club.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Monk said: “James has worked with me pretty much my whole time as a manager and again having someone that knows me and what I look for and what's needed, that's positive.
“Of course it didn't quite happen last summer, even though that was the preference. But that's no reflection on the guys that were with me Bully and Nicky especially, Thommo has stayed with me in the first team.
“They're fantastic guys and servants to this club but trying to work in the way in need to work and delivering that information it needs to be delivered, of course it's an advantage having your own staff.”
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Hide AdBeattie has worked with Monk previously at Swansea, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Birmingham, with Flahavan on board at every club since Leeds. All three came through the ranks as young players at Southampton, learning from the likes of Gordon Strachan and Glenn Hoddle at the turn of the century.
Hughes joins the club from an under-23s role at Sheffield United and all three have made a huge impact on the club’s pre-season training camp at Loughborough University.
“I'm delighted to have them here,” Monk said. “I think it'll give them a big benefit for the players. I know that the staff I've brought in are excited to work with the lads as they have been the last week or so.
“We've all known each other since very early days at Southampton, we've always had that friendship all the way through.
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Hide Ad"They're not here because we're friends, they're here because I believe they're very good at what they do. That's the key as a manager, to have the staff that know how you work and how you expect it to be delivered and the standard you want it delivered at and the personality that goes with it.”
Wednesday’s preparations for the season will jump up a gear when they take on Premier League Leicester City on Saturday.
The match will be played behind closed doors but will be available to stream for free on YouTube.