Magnay Knows Gateshead Can Combat Their January Blues

The Heed manager is dealing with a very demanding start to 2025, losing three of his key players to the EFL - while also losing the club’s grip on the FA Trophy.

Defeat at home to Boston United came after the club said goodbye to Callum Whelan, who signed for Carlisle United and Owen Oseni, who last week joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren for an undisclosed fee

Key defender Ben Radcliffe has also left following the expiration of his loan from Derby County but Magnay is calm about the situation.

“Every January we seem to have to adapt and react,” said Magnay. “We’re in a moment of transition again and we have to rebuild.

“We’ve always found a way. We have to adjust and react, and that’s what we are going to do.

“I still feel we have enough in the building to go and win games at this level and it’s all a mentality thing for them because they have to play with that Gateshead spirit.

“It was disappointing because there has been changes, as there were in January last year, and we’ve lost a couple more through injury.”

The 35-year-old made more than 120 appearances in two spells as a player at the International Stadium, and later joined Rob Elliot's coaching staff.

He stepped up after Gateshead lost another manager to the EFL, this time to League One Crawley, and he says he knows where they want to be.

“I’m desperate to do well for this club and the fans, I’m a local lad and a fan myself,” he said.

“I’m so conscious of getting this club where it wants to be and where the players deserve to be.”