Nogan To Be Re-United With Aspin

....Gateshead as assistant to manager Neil Aspin from December 21st.

The 46-year-old worked alongside Aspin at FC Halifax Town, joining up with the Shaymen in 2011.

Nogan watched from the stands as the Tynesiders saw off Chester FC at the International Stadium on Saturday, and will see out a three-week notice period in his current role before returning to the North East on a permanent basis.

A forward by trade, Nogan made over 100 appearances for Watford between 1991 and 1995, and also turned out for the likes of Oxford United, Reading and York City.

He went on to spend almost eignteen months in charge of Whitby Town, before returning to the Turnbull Ground as a player.

Re-united with Aspin once more, Nogan admitted there was little hesitation on his part after being approached to take up the role of number two.

He said: “It’s been a very easy decision for me. I was over the moon when I received the phone call, and then it has just been a case of sorting things out.

“I’ve worked with Neil for the last five years. This is his home-town club, and I know he has had a chance to come here in the past – but now is the right time for him.

“I’m just delighted I get the opportunity to come with him. We’ve had great success in recent years.

“We’re similar in a lot of ways, I think. We’re both honest individuals, and we don’t skirt around anything.

“We like to win, but first and foremost, we want our players to be happy and enjoy their football. If you have happy players, it tends to bring out performances.”

Victory over Chester marked Gateshead’s first at the International Stadium since September 15th, with Nogan impressed by the home side’s workmanlike display.

And – as he prepares to take up his first full-time role in the game since hanging up his boots – the Welshman spoke of his excitement at getting to work with the squad on a day-to-day level.

He said: “I was impressed. Micky Cummins and Ben Clark have done a good job. The team were well-organised, and considering there are a lot of players out injured, it bodes well for the future.

“Compared to Halifax, this is a different set-up entirely. Working part-time, you’re doing a maximum of two evenings a week. You’re often making sure you don’t have the players standing about for too long.

“Here, there’ll be sessions where we can elaborate more on what we want to do. It’s a totally different scenario.

“Style-wise, I’ve been brought up with a passing game in the right areas. My sessions tend to be based on a lot of possession and high-intensity at times, but the main thing is that the players are putting the effort in.

“We were lucky at Halifax, in that the players’ fitness levels were excellent considering they were part-time. Here, with the players being full-time, we expect that little bit more.”