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New Coaches Outline Their Vision
Written by Newcastle Utd
Paul Simpson and Ian Cathro on their new roles as assistant coaches to Steve McClaren
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Paul Simpson and Ian Cathro were appointed as assistant coaches to Steve McClaren last week, and the pair have wasted no time in making their mark at Newcastle's Benton base.
In an email to supporters on Thursday evening, McClaren confirmed that Simpson and Cathro would form part of his backroom staff alongside new fitness coach Alessandro Schoenmaker, consultant Steve Black and goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman, who has been with the Club since 2010.
Former England under-21 international Simpson worked under McClaren at Derby County and has managed in his own right at Carlisle, Preston North End and Shrewsbury. Cathro, meanwhile, is just 28 years old but has already established a reputation as one of the most innovative young coaches in the game and was assistant manager at Valencia when they finished fourth in La Liga last season.
The squad reported back for pre-season training on Wednesday and the new coaching team's methods appear to have been well received by the players.
Speaking to nufcTV's Magpies 24/7 show, Simpson said: "It's a great opportunity for us all to come to a football club like this.
"Steve's tried to put a management team together that's going to help as much as we possibly can; he's brought Ian Cathro in, who's a very bright up-and-coming coach with a fantastic energy to him and really good ideas, and myself to help with the organisational stuff, an extra pair of hands out on the training field.
"Alessandro's come in on the fitness side to go alongside what's already here and one thing that has really pleased us since we came into the building is that the other staff have been absolutely spot on so far. They've really taken us in, they all want to be involved and hopefully with us all together we can help bring some real good times back to the football club."
The former Manchester City and Wolves midfielder, who is 48 years old, added: "We're delighted with what we've got. (The players) are showing that they've got the enthusiasm, that they want to learn and listen. I think they're still a little bit nervous because of all the changes that are going on but they'll get used to us - they'll realise that we're not the type of people who rule everything with a stick.
"We want their input into it. We want them to enjoy training, we want them to be enthusiastic and I think when you come back for pre-season, you can't help but be enthusiastic working at a football club like this."
Cathro, who became the head of Dundee United's youth academy at the age of 22 after setting up his own coaching school as a teenager, said: "We're in the process of getting to know everyone - players and staff - and there's a good feeling around the place.
"Everyone's keen to make some progress. My view is to give everything that I possibly can, spend every hour of the day that I can apply to trying to support Steve and the rest of the staff, help the players improve and just give every part of me that I can. I think that's the role of an assistant coach and I'll try and do my very best.
"I know I'm still probably quite young, and that's written in the first line of most things, but I don't feel it. I'm just a hard worker and you get a lot done when you focus entirely on one thing."
And he joked: "I'm already losing my hair so time for me seems to be passing a little bit quicker than for others, perhaps."
Click here to watch the full interviews with Paul Simpson and Ian Cathro on nufcTV's new Magpies 24/7 show