STEVE Coppell has told Bristol City’s existing backroom staff to carry on as normal.

The Liverpudlian’s appointment as long-term successor to former boss Gary Johnson last month, cast doubt over the future of reserve-team coach Alan Walsh, development manager Dave Lee and chief scout Pete Johnson.

But all three have been told it is business as usual following face-to-face meetings with new manager Coppell.

City’s players report back for pre-season training at Ashton Gate on July 1 and Walsh and Lee will continue to work closely with them on the training ground.

Brother of the former manager, Johnson is already working alongside Coppell and assistant boss Keith Millen, charged with the task of identifying potential transfer targets.

Coppell, pictured, said: "I don’t want to rock the boat and I’m happy to work with the people who are already here.

"Wherever I have managed, I have always done it this week. I don’t take my own backroom team from club to club and I do not like change for the sake of change.

"I’m looking forward to getting to know the players when they come back after their summer break and it’s the same with the backroom staff. Working with different people is part of the challenge as far as I’m concerned."

But Coppell is demanding his staff set high standards and he describes them as "a work in progress."

He said: "I’m not going to throw it away. There are good people here, but they are all a work in progress.

"When we start training, I will be able to see who does what and the roles and responsibilities.

"The same thing happens off the field as it does on the field and it is our responsibility to try and improve every aspect.

"I want the staff to be hungry for knowledge and work non-stop in their efforts to make this club better."

Coppell has spent the past week planning City’s pre-season programme in meticulous detail. The Robins will tour Sweden in July, while friendly matches have been arranged against West rivals Exeter City and Yeovil Town.

City have also pencilled in warm-up games against IFK Gothenburg, Vallen IF and Halmstads BK, although dates for the tour to Scandinavia have yet to be confirmed.

Coppell said: "It’s a popular tour location of mine, one I’ve done many times.

"I go to Sweden because they are in mid-season and matches are against teams who are ahead of us fitness-wise, if not technically.

"Physically, it’s a challenge. If the objective of going on tour was to win games, you probably wouldn’t train much. Hopefully, the players will be overloaded, training and playing more than they would do in normal circumstances."

City meet League One Exeter in a friendly at St James’ Park on Monday, July 26 and then travel to play Yeovil at Huish Park two days later.

The club also intend organising one home friendly, although details have yet to be announced.