Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit throws backing behind Middlesbrough's Adi Viveash decision | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has spoken in praise of Middlesbrough coach Adi Viveash, with Boro set to unveil Kim Hellberg as their new manager.

Sky Sports pundit, Don Goodman, has spoken in praise of coach Adi Viveash as Middlesbrough prepare for the hotly-anticipated arrival of Kim Hellberg.

It's been all change at The Riverside Stadium since players left for the third international break of the new season. The departure of Rob Edwards for Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers rocked Middlesbrough, but they acted quickly during the break, gazumping Norwich City to secure the signature of Kim Hellberg from the Sewdish club Hammarby IF.

Boro get back to Championship action this weekend with a trip to Oxford United, but a delay in getting Hellberg's appointment finalised means that he won't be in the dugout at The Kassam Stadium on Saturday. But the team will be left in safe hands regardless in the form of assistant Adi Viveash, who will be staying with the club upon Hellberg's arrival.

Viveash took control of the team for their last match before the break, steering them to a 2-1 win against Birmingham City despite a febrile atmosphere inside The Riverside Stadium brought about by Edwards' sudden and unexpected departure after just five months on Teesside.

Don Goodman hails Adi Viveash for his roles at MIddlesbrough and Coventry

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit, Don Goodman, has praised Adi Viveash: "I think I read an article where Middlesbrough are pretty much saying that whoever comes in to be the head coach/manager they would like Adi Viveash to stay at the football club. And that is a testament to how influential a coach he is and has been."

Goodman also praised Viveash for his contribution towards the revival of Coventry City in recent years: "I felt the same when he was at Coventry with Mark Robins, that he had a very hands-on role there, and I think most people realised that and shared the credit, albeit Mark Robins rightly so would get most of the credit for how well they did together at Coventry City."

And he feels very strongly that Middlesbrough have recognised what he brings to the club, and the Boro will be better off for keeping him at the club: "And he's left an impression clearly on the ownership with the way he goes about his business. A Middlesbrough without Adi Viveash on the staff will be a poorer Middlesbrough."

Adi Viveash staying will give Middlesbrough vital continuity upon Kim Hellberg's arrival

Adi Viveash's coaching career goes back almost twenty years. After the end of a playing career that took in a number of EFL clubs - most notably Walsall, for whom he made over 150 appearances - he started coaching in the non-league game at Cirencester City before moving on to Chelsea, where he worked with their under-18 and under-21 teams.

But it was with his next role that his reputation really started to grow. Appointed as the assistant to Mark Robins at Coventry City in 2017, he stayed with the club for seven years, which included two promotions in three seasons. It would be a year before he was appointed as assistant to Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough.

It's not uncommon for a club's entire backroom staff to leave with a manager, but Viveash stayed at The Riverside Stadium and described himself as 'privileged' to be working under Steve Gibson at Boro following their 2-1 win against Birmingham in his first game in charge as interim manager.

Viveash staying with the club would certainly be a coup for Middlesbrough. Not only is he an extremely accomplished coach in his own right, but having him on hand to offer continuity upon Kim Hellberg's arrival at the club will offer a degree of stability at the end of what has been a difficult couple of weeks for the Teesside club.