Roeder Gets His Man

Glenn Roeder unveiled his backroom staff after putting the final piece of the jigsaw together by 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.

Roeder: 'I have taken my time because I wanted the right man and I know I have got him. 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.'

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