Latest from Newcastle United as backroom position remains up for grabs
Newcastle United academy coach Robbie Stockdale
Newcastle United academy coach Robbie Stockdale(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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The Newcastle United Under-21s lead coach vacancy will be ‘highly coveted’ - according to the man currently filling the role on an interim basis.
Former Middlesbrough defender Robbie Stockdale has stepped into the void left behind by Adam Lawrence’s shock decision to step down earlier this month and has guided the Magpies youngsters through a period of change.
The role is nothing new for Stockdale, who took interim charge ahead of the current season and into the early weeks of the campaign following the departure of former head coach Diarmuid O’Carroll to Czech club Sparta Prague.
A steadying and calm influence on the training pitch and in the technical area on matchday, the former Bradford City manager has given the United hierarchy some breathing space as they look to appoint a permanent successor to Lawrence, who has since returned to Manchester United in another surprise development.
Although he described the role as ‘a great job at a fantastic football club’, Stockdale stopped short of confirming his interest in becoming Under-21s head coach on a permanent basis and is solely focused on guiding the players currently within his remit.
He told Chronicle Live: “It’s a role I’ve done before, I’m quite comfortable doing it.
“The reaction from the players for the last couple of weeks has been nothing short of exceptional so as long as that continues I’m sure everyone will be happy.
“It’s a great job at a fantastic football club, it’s a job that is highly coveted and that’s probably where we are at. The club will make decisions they have to make and that’s absolutely fine.”
The late postponement of Friday night’s home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers means the Magpies Under-21s have had a free week to prepare for this weekend’s Premier League 2 visit to Aston Villa with a trip to Arsenal coming seven days later.
Despite the obvious frustration of Friday’s postponement, Stockdale believes the match officials made the right call after Whitley Park was hit by persistent rainfall throughout the day.
“From lunchtime we were thinking it might have been in doubt and the referee made the correction decision,” he explained.
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