Exeter City’s new head of coaching Kevin Nicholson says he is pleased to have joined the club and is looking forward to the challenge.
“I am really, really pleased,” said Kevin. “I know a lot of the guys at Exeter obviously with my history at Torquay. I have been down in this area now for 12 years. They have always been very supportive behind the scenes, while I was Torquay manager.
“The chairman has always been helpful, always wanted to give me some advice and sent me the odd encouraging text when things were a little bit tougher.
“I know Matt Taylor from when he was in the roles of under-23s coach, I know Wayne Carlisle as I have played with him at Torquay and I have always kept in touch with him.
“So it is strangely familiar here even though I have only been doing the job for a week. However, even from the outside people know how well run this club is. They know about the academy and the kind of players that they produce. They know about the structure. They know that they treat the people here the right way. And so I have got to come in here now and so my worth. Show that I am ready to join in, learn the Exeter way and the Grecian plan and then hopefully contribute.”
Kevin, who spent two and a half years as boss at Plainmoor, says he the stable environment at Exeter City’s Academy was a key reason for him joining. He likes the way the club is always looking to reflect and improve.
“To come to an environment that is so stable, that is so well run, that is so forward-thinking, is refreshing in football because a lot of football is stuck in its ways from years ago,” he said.
“Exeter wants to do things differently. They want to be unique but not just for the sake of it. It is thought through, it is planned and it is organised. They will reflect on everything they do and make sure they are always in a position to do it better. That suits the way I work, that suits my character and so I am delighted to be here.”
Speaking about the head of coaching role, Kevin added: “It is a chance for me to come in and put a fresh pair of eyes on things that are already well established and well run.
“It is a chance for me to help the coaches, help the players. So it is not going to be as much time on the grass as I am used to directly influencing players. It is going to be a case of, once I have had time to really learn the philosophy, the curriculum and how things are done here, to then go in and put my spin, I suppose, and my personality on helping these coaches out and helping them help the players.
“I suppose the daunting thing is that A, I am taking over from Wayne (Carlisle) who is very intense, very, very hard working and very, very good at his job. So I am coming into take over from a guy like that and the record that Exeter City have got in the academy, so far, shows that you are doing something right. So, I have got to make sure I pull my weight and make sure I get into this job quickly.”