Bristol Rovers' promotion campaign was built on a bedrock of superior fitness and endurance that enabled their surge up the League Two table in the final weeks of the season.
Overseeing that success was Rovers' head of performance Tom Short, who was brought in from Burnley last summer by manager Joey Barton after they had worked together at Turf Moor.
It was an appointment that paid off hugely with the Gas peaking at the right time and overwhelming opponents later in the season, with their ability to score late goals proving pivotal in the big moments that defined the campaign.
And ahead of the new season, Rovers have added a second Short to their coaching staff, with Tom's younger brother Greg appointed after a stint at Carlisle United. Greg had been on the first-team staff at Brunton Park since 2019, having worked with the youth team previously.
After a restructure of the Cumbrians' setup under Paul Simpson, the junior Short was quickly snapped up by Rovers, filling the strength and conditioning vacancy left by the departure of Chris Cone late last season.
Greg's appointment will allow Tom to take a broader, more strategic overview of Rovers' fitness regime, although he will still be hands-on at The Quarters and on matchdays.
They are not the only brothers on Rovers' support staff, with Adam and Lewis Mahoney leading the club's analysis department.
Elsewhere on the staff, Rovers are still without a goalkeeping coach after Tony Warner's departure for Championship side Reading.
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