Meet the team behind the scenes

IT IS not only on the pitch that Athletic have a new-look, but they also have a much-changed backroom team.

Manager Dave Penney has been joined by No 2 Martin Gray and goalkeeping coach Andy Collett as all three worked together at Darlington.

They join reserve-team coach Lee Duxbury, head of youth Tony Philliskirk, chief scout Graham Brown and physio Marc Czuczman who all remain at Boundary Park.

Here Penney provides an insight into his backroom team, beginning with himself.

PENNEY ON PENNEY: “I was never the best player, but I had a strong work ethic and commitment which is something I demand from my players.

“And if you can get that from your players before they cross the white line then you are guaranteed to get hard work which most supporters will live with.

“We know we have quality so if we can be well organised, disciplined and work our socks off then the quality will come through.

“I think I am a slightly different manager to a player when I was more of a stopper and not technically the best player, though I could score goals and affect things on the pitch.

“I like my teams to be more open and expansive, more high energy and dynamic with plenty of shots and crosses and to entertain the crowd, though we want to win football matches.

“The players will wear suits to matches because I believe if you look smart you will play smart and discipline on and off the field go hand in hand.

“I am also very much a hands-on manager and it is very rare that I am not on the training ground. I think it is important that if you have had a bad result on Saturday the manager is there on Monday to pick the players up.”

ON GRAY: “When I joined Darlington in 2006, Martin (pictured) was already at the club as youth-team coach.

“I told him that if he had the same work ethic as myself then I would be happy to work with both him and Andy.

“It is important when we have meetings that your No 2 is not a yes man and that he has his own opinions.

“We are always bouncing ideas off one another though, as manager, the final decision rests with me.

“Martin is heavily involved in the coaching, especially with ball work, and that sometimes gives me the opportunity to stand back and look at things from afar.

“Martin is very different to me in that he is very intense and he is also full of enthusiasm and we work well together.”

ON COLLETT: “Andy was only a part-time goalkeeping coach when I arrived at Darlington and I managed to make his post permanent.

“That proved beneficial as we brought in goalkeeper David Stockdale from non-league and later sold him to Fulham for £350,000.

“I think is important to have a full-time goalkeeping coach as they are a different breed and use different coaching techniques.

“Andy (pictured) also has a good work ethic and he also knows how the get the best out of the keepers he coaches.

“When we bring in a goalkeeper the decision is 75-per-cent down to his judgement of the player. It is no use me bringing in a keeper he cannot work with.

“Andy also has an input when it comes to working on defending set pieces and I work closely with him and Martin.

ON DUXBURY: “Lee is learning his trade and another with a great work ethic.

“He has great enthusiasm and is keen to join the first-team squad as much as possible and keen to learn and see how different managers work.”

ON PHILLISKIRK: “We were team-mates at Cardiff and his record here speaks for itself in the production of players.

“It is important to have a youth system and we are lucky here to have a very successful one.

“When I arrived at Doncaster we did not have one and I helped set one up because I realised its importance.”

ON BROWN: “Graham last season spent most of his time compiling match reports on opponents, though we have a company doing that for us now.

“He will concentrate on player recruitment in the coming campaign so there will be a change of emphasis on what he does.”

ON CZUCZMAN: “I am happy with both Marc and Jon Guy who treat our injured players.

“They are doing things right and appear very switched on and pro-active and I am pleased with them.”