Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cotterill has hailed the work done by Sean O'Driscoll since his arrival at the club.
Former Doncaster boss O'Driscoll was appointed to Cotterill's coaching staff almost a month ago on a deal that will run until the end of the season.
The pair played alongside each other during their spells at Bournemouth.
Cotterill said: "Having Sean in has helped because he has been on the training ground and it has allowed me more time where I don't have to worry about the preparation in training.
"Even without the transfer window, January is a bad month anyway. It is not an ideal month. It puts managers, chairmen and everyone else under huge strain.
"Sean has helped to ease that, but I had no doubts that he would as we go back a long way."
Cotterill, meanwhile, is hoping he can get Garath McCleary to sign a new contract at the club.
Winger McCleary is one of several players who will see their current deals expire in the summer. Others include midfielder Paul Anderson and defenders Luke Chambers and Joel Lynch.
Cotterill believes McCleary could have a key role to play for the remainder of the season as his side looks to pull clear of the Championship relegation zone.
But the Reds boss wants the 24-year-old to remain at the City Ground beyond the summer.
He said: "I have been really pleased with him since I came here. I think the boy is a talent. He has been exceptional. He is a fantastic boy and he does very well. Hopefully it will stay that way and we can get him tied down.
"I would like to keep quite a few of the players who are out of contract and he is definitely among those."
