STEVE Wigley insists he is not here to take Keith Millen's job as Bristol City boss.

Having served as assistant to three previous managers, Millen ascended to the Ashton Gate hot seat himself following last week's shock departure of Steve Coppell.

One of Millen's first tasks upon taking charge was to appoint former Southampton number one Wigley as his assistant. But the 48-year-old northerner claims he has no intention of going after Millen's job and is here to help him.

"I've had no thoughts of being a manager for a long time. I'm quite happy coaching," said Wigley, who will continue in his role as assistant to England Under-21 head coach Stuart Pearce.

"If I'm honest, that is how I see myself. As I get a little bit older, that may change. But at the minute, I'm a football coach and I don't see that changing."

He added: "My job is to help him as much as possible. I've been in the position he is in now when I was at Southampton and I know what it is like for a new, young manager.

"Even though I only did the job for a short time, I understand the pressures a manager is under and I feel my experience will enable me to give Keith the support he needs."

Former Bolton Wanderers assistant boss Wigley took charge of his first training session on Thursday and revealed how the recent signing of England goalkeeper David James influenced his decision to drop down to the Championship.

He explained: "There were a few raised eyebrows up and down the country when David turned up in Bristol but, as far as I was concerned, it showed the club's ambition.

"You don't sign someone who has just appeared in a World Cup finals if you are not serious about wanting to do well.

"Signing someone of David James' stature spoke volumes and convinced me Bristol City was a club heading for bigger and better things."

Having spent most of his career as a player and coach in the top flight, Wigley makes no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League.

Explaining his decision to throw in his lot with Millen at Ashton Gate, the former Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and Portsmouth winger said: "There are probably up to 14 clubs in the Championship who all feel they have a chance to get promoted this season.

"Bristol City are one of those and I see a club geared up to get there sooner rather than later.

"I had a situation at Bolton where I was on gardening leave last season and working for England Under-21s was not enough for me. I wanted another club and missing a pre-season for the first time in who knows how many years brought it home to me. It reminded me that I wanted to get back on the training ground as quickly as possible.

"I knew Keith already and I felt he was someone I had something in common with and could work with. We met and talked and, in the end, it was an easy decision for me to make.

"I was here in Bristol the week before with the Under-21s and if you had told me I would be back so soon, I would not have believed you. A lot has happened in a short space of time and it is all to my benefit."

Meanwhile, City have arranged another behind-closed-doors friendly in a bid to hasten the return of several key players from injury.

Defenders Louis Carey and Christian Ribeiro both featured in a 1-1 draw with Cheltenham Town at the club's Failand training headquarters last week and are expected to face Aldershot in a similar exercise on Tuesday.

And midfielder Kalifa Cisse is also scheduled to make his long-awaited return after recovering from the effects of a thigh strain.

Millen said: "We've set-up another practice match to help some of the injured players progress.

"Louis will probably be involved, while Christian will play for longer than he did against Cheltenham and Kalifa will get his first run out since he was injured in pre-season.

"We've been short of numbers for a long time now and it is encouraging to see a few of them coming back. It shows there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Result – FA Premier Academy League: Bristol City Yth 1 Newcastle Yth 2.