Heed legend Clark will be key for Cattermole

NEW BOSS STARTS WORK BY LEANING ON EX-CHIEF

- Mark Carruthers

GATESHEAD legend Ben Clark has played a ‘massive role’ in helping former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole settle into life as new manager of the National League club.

After spending time working as an academy coach at Middlesbrough and in the first-team setup at Bristol Rovers, Cattermole landed his first opportunity in management when he agreed a two-year deal with interim chairman Graham Wood earlier this month.

Clark also put pen-to-paper on a long-term deal to continue in his role as first-team coach prior to Cattermole’s appointment - and the duo have been working hard over the last week as their squad prepare to return for pre-season training.

Cattermole could add another new face to his backroom staff over the coming weeks - but he stressed he will not be rushed into any decisions until he and Clark experience working together on the training pitch.

He said: “We will do whatever we can do help us - but that (a new coach) is not something we've discussed at the moment.