NEW Ipswich Town reserve team development coach Chris Kiwomya today revealed his thirst to put something back into a club he served so well as a player.

NEW Ipswich Town reserve team development coach Chris Kiwomya today revealed his thirst to put something back into a club he served so well as a player.

The 38-year-old has moved from Arsenal to join Jim Magilton's backroom team at Portman Road - and effectively take over the role vacated by Steve Greaves who departed Town earlier this month.

Kiwomya made 259 first team appearances and scored 64 goals helping the Blues to the Premier League in 1992. He left to play for Arsenal where he has earned a good reputation as a coach in recent times.

“I worked under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for a short time,” said Kiwomya. “The way he prepares players for a game is incredible, both physically and mentally.

“So much goes into the preparation but when the whistle goes, it is down to the players on the pitch to be able to stand up and be counted in big games.

“Liam Brady has also been great with me at the Arsenal academy, but to come back to Ipswich and try and put something back in the club that has been so important to me in my career is too good an opportunity to miss out on.

“It is a big step for me. Arsenal is a great club and at the academy there they have got some great ideas.

“They have some really talented players, but Ipswich has got a track record in that area as well.

“You can't always just go out and spend money. You have to bring through your own players as well.”

Kiwomya will be meeting up with coaches who were at Ipswich during his time as a player at the club.

He added: “I have great memories of my time here as a player. I worked with some good people.

“I've known some working here now for 20 years, Bryan Klug, Charlie Woods, guys like that.

“They all helped me when I was a player here and their advice has stayed with me and now I want to pass on my own knowledge to the young players - and help them to get to the next level.

“I've experience of playing in the Premier League, just like the manager has and I want to pass that on and help the players here progress in any way I can.”

Kiwomya will run the Town second string and also work closely with senior academy players.

After a not so great stint as a player at Arsenal under George Graham, Kiwomya played in France and Malaysia before joining QPR and ended his playing career at Aalborg in Denmark.

Magilton said: “Chris knows what this football club is all about.

“He has worked at Arsenal, which is a good name on your CV, and I know he has inherited ideas from there.

“The fact he has left Arsenal to come here shows how important the club is to him and how much he wants to be a part of moving us forward.”

Town are officially announcing James Hollman as their new goalkeeping coach today while talks are about to take place with Nuremburg over Greek international striker Angelos Charisteas.

No fee has been agreed, but it is believed Town's offer (around £2.5m) is near enough to the German club's estimation for Nuremburg to allow Town chief executive Derek Bowden to start talks with the player and his representative over terms.

A player signing is imminent (not Charisteas) and set to happen before the end of the week, with both long-term injury worries Richard Naylor and David Norris well on the way to full fitness.

Town start their pre-season games with a visit to Bury Town tomorrow night.