Nicky Deverdics, who started his career alongside Andy Carroll and Tim Krul in Newcastle United's youth set-up, has been named manager of Northern League Division One club Whickham.
The 38-year-old, who also played for Hartlepool United and Wrexham, has spent the last six years in North East non-league football with Gateshead, Blyth Spartans, Newton Aycliffe and Heaton Stannington. He will remain part of the Lang Jacks playing squad for the time being.
Early promise at The Glebe
His primary focus is on making a successful start to his managerial career as he looks to guide Whickham away from the wrong end of the Division Two table. Early signs are encouraging, with a penalty shoot-out win in an FA Vase tie against neighbours Birtley Town and a dramatic 3-3 home draw with title favourites Bishop Auckland standing out as reasons for positivity.
Deverdics is realistic about the challenges ahead, praising the Whickham committee for being open about the financial picture after a 'lower than anticipated commercial and sponsorship income' forced them to slash their budget and move forward with a young squad.
Managerial ambitions
He told Chronicle Live: "Could have picked an easier job? I'm not sure I could have picked a harder one! It's something I've toyed with for the last season at least and I've had other managers I've had in the past saying to think about taking the plunge.
"You have to start somewhere, you have to get on the management scene and everyone knows me as a player to this point so to change that I have to start someone.
"I had good conversations with Whickham, I had to weigh things up and if Stuey (assistant head coach Stuart Brightwell) didn't come in, it probably would have taken my decision another way.
"The main aim, especially with the rebuild, it is to stay up. We aren't just seeing that as our only goal, we want to push on and be comfortable but if we scrape over the line, that's an achievement baring in mind with what has gone on.
"The club have been open about the situation, we know where we are at and we will do everything we can to progress."
Advice from trusted mentors
Deverdics has worked under a wide range of managers during a playing career that rose as high as the Scottish Premiership and League Two, as well as spells in Iceland and the Faroe Islands. He has experience under former Premier League players Craig Hignett, Craig Harrison and Mike Williamson.
He has turned to two figures for advice: "I've spoken to the two managers I'm fairly close to," explained Deverdics. "That's Paul Bryson, who I never played under but I work with him at i2i Academy, and he's got thousands of games in the non-league system under his belt so I speak to him about things here and there from a managerial side.
"And I'm in constant communication with Graham Fenton, someone I learnt a lot from later in my career when I was at Spartans. I probably learnt more from him than I did working under managers higher up the pyramid earlier in my career.
"I'm going out to games and scouting teams and players so you have chats with managers when you're around."
Playing and managing combined
For now, Deverdics will combine playing and managerial duties. He featured in three of Whickham's last four fixtures ahead of Saturday's game with Thornaby, with the exception coming in a 3-1 defeat at Division One rivals Whitley Bay.
The new Lang Jacks boss admitted there will be a time when he has to step aside and focus solely on management. He said: "It's a very young squad and a lot of them haven't really played at this level. Some have played in Division Two, some in the Northern Alliance - but in general, it's a young squad with a few coming out of Gateshead Academy, Finn Robertson has come out of Sunderland and we have a few of the i2i players in.
"There is a general naivety that you are going to get with young players and a lack of voices and authoritative communication you will get from three or four experienced players on the pitch.
"Once they start showing leadership, a real understanding of what we are going to do, and are able to drag each other through games, I will step aside but at the moment I will have to play for now."
