Former Newcastle United defender backed to make big impact at South Shields

Former Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson has been backed to make a big impact as South Shields after taking up a role as first-team coach of the National League North leaders.

The former Gateshead and MK Dons manager was named as the newest addition to Ian Watson’s coaching staff on Friday after it was confirmed Matty Pattison had stepped away from the role to focus on commitments away from football. Williamson’s first game with the Mariners came less than 24 hours after his appointment was confirmed as Watson’s men preserved their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 win against Leamington.

After working alongside Williamson as assistant manager at Gateshead, MK Dons and Carlisle United, there are few people better qualified to offer an opinion over how the former Magpies centre back could impact on events at the 1st Cloud Arena than Watson. The duo led the Heed to the National League North title during their time at the International Stadium before working in the EFL with MK Dons and Carlisle - and their unexpected reunion at South Shields will offer the Mariners a chance to build on the momentum they have gained over the last six months.

Speaking after Saturday’s win, the Mariners boss said: “Mike is an incredible person and an unbelievable football coach as well. I’ve worked with him a lot when we were at Gateshead together and then at MK Dons and Carlisle as well. If you speak to any player that’s played under Mike, they will speak so highly of him because he just wants to help and improve people off the pitch and wants to improve people on the pitch as well.

“We are really lucky he’s agreed to come and help us for as long as possible and as a football club we are trying to build, to get stronger and grow and we really want to develop this football club and move it forward. There is literally nobody better in the world to come in for me than Mike.”

Watson could consider handing starts to the likes of Lennon Wheeldon and Sonny Finch after they were named as substitutes for the weekend win against Leamington.

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