Roeder sets up backroom team
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder today unveiled his backroom staff after persuading Kevin Bond to swap Portsmouth for St James’ Park.
Bond, who had been offered a new deal at Fratton Park after returning from Southampton with Harry Redknapp for his third spell at Pompey, has been recruited as Roeder’s number two.
Reserve team boss Tommy Craig, who worked with the 50-year-old and skipper Alan Shearer at the end of last season, will remain in his post, while experienced midfielder Lee Clark will join the coaching staff.
Terry McDermott, who was brought back to the club by former manager Graeme Souness, will now assist chief scout David Mills, while there is a return to St James’ for doctor Roddy McDonald, who left in 1999 for Celtic.
Bond, who is understood to have been offered only a one-year deal at Portsmouth, worked for Roeder in a scouting capacity during his time at West Ham, and the Magpies boss is confident he is the right man for the job.
“I have taken my time because I wanted the right man and I know I have got him,” he said.
“Kevin has had three years working with Harry Redknapp and he didn’t want to lose him and he is disappointed that he has.
“But Harry knows that this is too good a chance for Kevin to turn down and he fully understands why we want him and why he wants to come here.
“He has turned out to be a very good coach indeed. He did some scouting work for me when I was at West Ham and he has a great football background and pedigree.
“He is what I would call a modern pro-active coach with modern ideas who is always looking to improve himself, and I can remember him going across to Italy last season to watch both Inter and AC Milan train.
“Some managers can coach and others cannot, and I am never happier than when I am out there working with the players, and that’s what I will be doing with Kevin.”
Bond’s appointment plugs a major gap in the Newcastle set-up, but there is still one significant post to be filled – the one Roeder vacated to take over as caretaker in February.
The job of Academy manager is still up for grabs but the last incumbent has promised to take his time once again after seeing six men take it on in as many years.
Ipswich’s Brian Klug has already been mentioned in dispatches, but Roeder has revealed there are “three or four” candidates under consideration.
