Former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson is playing a role in South Shields’ bid for a historic promotion into the National League.

South Shields manager Ian Watson has praised the impact former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson has made since taking up a role within the Mariners setup.

The duo have a longstanding relationship after Watson worked as Williamson’s assistant manager during his managerial reigns at Gateshead, MK Dons and Carlisle United over the last seven years - and were reunited at the 1st Cloud Arena earlier this year when Williamson was added to Watson’s coaching staff.

After initially being appointed as a first team coach, the former Magpies star has now been named as ‘director of performance and culture’ at the 1st Cloud Arena as part of a restructure that also brought the appointments of Chris Bell and Francesca Callebaut as technical director and general manager respectively.

Watson gave an invaluable insight into his relationship with Williamson ahead of Saturday’s National League North play-off final with Kidderminster and revealed how he is able to ‘lean on’ the former Magpies centre-back in a personal and professional capacity as he looks to round off his first season in the lead role in the dugout in spectacular fashion.

He told The Gazette: “I don’t feel too much different from the role I’ve done previously - but I have enjoyed leading and leading every single day. What I did find difficult previously was the responsibility. I’d be responsible for something and Mike would get the flak from the fans or the media and that really hurt me because he’s an incredible person. If it goes wrong, it goes wrong on me.

“We have worked together, we have worked closely and he’s worked with Carl. We know what Mike brings, the boys love him a lot and he works hard on the mentality side of things. He falls back in the experience he’s had and the levels he has played at and the boys lean on him and ask certain questions. He’s good for me as well, I’ve said it before but he’s like a big brother for me now and I lean on him in a lot of aspects in life and football. He’s been brilliant since he’s come in.”

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