Former Sunderland star Lee Cattermole is hoping to link up with his old club to help them develop their young players - in a move that will also boost his career hopes.
Cattermole was unveiled as Gateshead's new manager on Wednesday, after Chronicle Live exclusively revealed he was in the frame for his first job as a head coach.
The Heed have forged a reputation as a club that can help turbo-charge the development of academy prospects in recent seasons after the likes of Derby County striker Dajaune Brown, Stockport County defender Ethan Pye and Cambridge United centre-back Mamadou Jobe have all shone during temporary stints at the International Stadium.
Cattermole spent a decade representing Sunderland during his playing career, making almost 250 appearances for the club. He then coached within the academy setup at Middlesbrough after captaining his hometown club, and says he is open to working with his former clubs on potential loan deals and believes he can offer the right guidance for young prospects to thrive at the International Stadium.
He said: “I think it’s down to so much stuff in terms of where these players are at. Who is available, who is not available. What the academy directors think, what the clubs think, what their agents think. I’d like to think they will trust us and know they will be in good hands.
“We will carry on whatever development plans they have for their players and we will communicate as much as we can. They would be coming into an environment where there is lots of care and lots of challenge.
“They’ll enjoy it because that challenge point is crucial for me as a manager. It’s about how can we challenge and support them at the right level on the right days. That excites me as a manager because they know it will be tough but they know why it will be tough.
“You shouldn’t rule anything out - but I’m not even 24 hours in so we will see.”
There is a need for Cattermole to boost the squad he inherited from former Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot after several members of the Heed ranks departed the club over the last month. Talks are ongoing over new deals for captain Kenton Richardson and winger Harry Chapman - although Chronicle Live understands both players have interest from elsewhere.
Promising midfield duo Josh Home and Fenton John have committed their future to the club and the Heed have already triggered extensions in the contracts of goalkeeper Adam Desbois and defensive duo Brad Nicholson and David Ferguson.
However, there is a clear need to add to the 14 senior players currently at Cattermole’s disposal and Chronicle Live understands one defender with significant National League and League Two experience is keen to move to the International Stadium.
