BRISTOL City's backroom staff face an anxious wait to see if they still have a future at the club.

New manager Steve Coppell officially took up his post yesterday and immediately set about drafting plans for next season.

The former Reading boss held a series of meetings with Ashton Gate staff, including assistant Keith Millen, reserve-team coach Alan Walsh and development manager Dave Lee.

Although Millen's job is secure for the forseeable future, the others have yet to be told if they will remain at the club.

A successful City player during the 1980s, Walsh has worked his way through the ranks as a coach during the past decade and is a popular member of the dressing room.

Former Bristol Rovers and Chelsea defender Lee was appointed 12 months ago with a brief to provide a link between the Academy and first team.

Both were highly-valued members of previous manager Gary Johnson's backroom team and it would be a surprise if either was forced out the door.

City chairman Steve Lansdown is keen to keep costs down and is not in favour of the new manager bringing in his own team of advisers and coaches.

Speaking before taking up his new job, Coppell said: "I've never brought my own backroom team in before and I think I've worked with about 11 different assistant managers during my career.

"At every club, I've more or less been asked to work with the existing staff and see how it goes. For the most part, that is what I have done.

"I don't envisage a great deal of change now I'm here.

"I get up early, I work hard and I expect others to do the same. All I can do is provide an environment and, if people want to work, then they will work.

"If they don't want to work, then it's obvious and they will inevitably move on to bigger and better things, or just move on."

Coppell has been working closely with Millen since accepting the job and believes the pair can strike up a successful partnership.

He said: "I respect the job Keith has done here as caretaker manager and, having talked to him on almost a daily basis over the past few weeks, I believe we both feel we can work together.

"I don't dictate and I don't expect everything to be done my way. I have an open mind and that's one of the reasons I've lasted so long in this industry."

Although Coppell will direct and supervise the team's preparations, he does not expect to be on the training ground every day.

He revealed: "When I was at Reading, I had three top qualified coaches, so there was no need for me to do it all myself.

"I like to outline what we are doing and then allow others to get on with it. I will be doing some coaching, but I won't be there every day."