Newcastle United have confirmed the appointment of Graeme Jones, with the former Bournemouth assistant joining Steve Bruce’s coaching team.
The club confirm he “becomes an assistant to Steve Bruce and will work alongside Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Steve Harper”, with Academy Head of Coaching, Ben Dawson, also ‘set to remain with the first team until the end of the current season’.
The 50-year-old was born in Gateshead and arrives for a reported compensation fee of £250,000.
He’s previously been assistant coach of the Belgium national squad, also working as Roberto Martinez’s ‘No. 2’ at Everton.
His one spell in management was an unsuccessful one, however, with him sacked at Luton in April last year after just 12 wins in 41 games left them second bottom of the Championship.
Here’s what Jones and Steve Bruce have had to say following today’s appointment:
Graeme Jones
“I’m proud to be here at the team I supported as a boy, and all of my life.
“During my playing and coaching career, it has always been the first result I would look for after my own.
“Now, I’ve hopefully got a chance to have a direct influence on results and the future of the football club, which is something I’m very excited for.”
Steve Bruce
“I’m delighted to welcome Graeme on board.
“He is vastly experienced and I could tell speaking to him that he is hugely passionate about the club and very keen to join us.
“He is from here but has been away for 35 years so the opportunity to come in and give us a hand is one he has jumped at.”
We wish Jones well and hope he makes a difference, but can’t help but feel this £250,000 should’ve been used to pay off Steve Bruce – a man who clearly doesn’t feel capable of turning things around on his own.
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Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Jones is a world cup winning coach (what the F_ck)
England had the easiest fixture’s and when they came to very average & aging opposition = they lost (!?)
Had been with Bournemouth – hold on, where are they? OH Yes, they are 6th in the championship & where are the other 2 teams that were relegated last season 1st & 2nd
What a disastrous decision by the NUFC Board – what was spent on Comp could have got rid of Bruce
Why do you think Bournemouth got rid = All Talk without Results
KK(Quote)