Newcastle United announce Robbie Stockdale as new Under 21 coach
Newcastle United had to begin the search for yet another new Under-21 coach after Adam Lawrence resigned from the post in January.
While the first team have had some stability in the hot seat since the 2021 takeover, the role of Under 21 coach has been more of a hot potato.
Adam Lawrence joined Newcastle from Manchester United, and that's where he returned in January, leaving an open spot in the reserves.
That spot was initially filled on an interim basis by Robbie Stockdale, who has now been given the position on a permanent basis.
Robbie Stockdale is relishing the role as Under-21s coach now that it is officially his
Stockdale has overseen six games as interim boss, and the Under 21s have lost just one of those fixtures, which has earned the former Middlesbrough defender the role on a permanent basis. Speaking to the club's official site, Stockdale said it was a real privilege to take the job on a permanent basis.
“It’s a real privilege to take on this role on a permanent basis.
“I’ve loved working with the players and staff over the last year and I’m proud of the progress the group has made.
“It’s a fantastic environment to be part of and I’m looking forward to continuing the work we’ve started and helping our young players take the next steps on their journey towards first-team football.”
Bringing a winning mentality to the Under-21s is huge for the young stars' development
Newcastle's reserves contain plenty of gems that Newcastle hope will push on through to the first team, but historically, as a team, they've struggled for results.
Stockdale seems to have brought something to the role that the young players are responding to, and we're starting to see results that match the talent pool.
Having a successful Under-21s side can only be a positive for the first team, as the more the players get used to winning, the hungrier they'll become and the harder they'll try, so it won't be long before we're seeing Park Seung-soo tearing it up in the Premier League.
