Former Valencia coach Ian Cathro has emerged as a major candidate to fill the assistant manager vacancy at Newcastle United, according to the BBC.
Newly appointed head coach Steve McClaren has recently stated that he wants his backroom staff in place before the players return for pre-season training on July 1st and is remaining ‘open minded’ about who could become part of his set-up.
“I’m looking for the best,” McClaren told BBC Newcastle. “It can be difficult because good people are always working elsewhere. No doubt though, I want my team in by next week, with a good week to 10 days to prepare.”
The one-time favourite to become McClaren’s number two, Bolo Zenden has ruled himself out of the running as he continues to assess his options, while Steve Round and Phil Neville have also distanced themselves from rumours – hence the club turning their attentions to Ian Cathro.
Cathro left his role at Valencia earlier this month due to ‘family reasons’ and has since returned to his home country Scotland.
At the time of his departure, the 28-year-old was being heavily linked with the managerial vacancy at Rangers, but conceded his was not considering offers from any clubs.
Two weeks later and it now appears the former Dundee United youth academy coach could be set for a move to Tyneside as McClaren’s assistant.
Simply put, Cathro fits the bill – a young, ambitious coach who has worked at the very top. Although his playing career didn’t take off, his career has been solely based around football – from setting up a coaching school to Rio Ave to two cup finals and European qualification.
Meanwhile, McClaren is still keen on recruiting Paul Simpson and Newcastle-born sports psychologist Steve Black as part of his backroom staff, but there is no confirmation as of yet.
