Sheffield Wednesday’s new managing duo, Garry Monk and James Beattie: “Teammates, friends and colleagues”
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James Beattie was confirmed as a new addition to Monk’s Wednesday technical team earlier this month, coming on board as his assistant manager alongside new goalkeeping coach, Darryl Flahavan, and new first team coach, Andrew Hughes.
Between them, the quartet are tasked with helping SWFC overcome a 12-point Championship deduction, and it’s a task that will seem less daunting given the fact that they’ve done it before together during their time with Birmingham City.
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Hide AdThis challenge is slightly different given that the deduction is from game one – although Wednesday are appealing it – whereas Birmingham found out their fate midway through the season. City finished 12 points clear, even after being docked nine points.
Beattie has been with Monk for many years on and off since they first met at Southampton over two decades ago, and he says that his honesty is something that the manager is looking for.
Speaking to the club’s Youtube page, the former England international said, “He was at Southampton when I signed as a 20-year-old in 1998, and we’ve been teammates, friends and colleagues ever since.
"I can speak freely in front of Garry… I have my own opinions about the game and I think that's what he wants on his staff, lots of opinions but then when the decision is made by him, then we are all behind him, which we all are.
"He is the one that makes the decisions. He's the boss."
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Hide AdThere’s also a clear plan in place, with the new assistant adding, “It’s about getting the ideas of the gaffer into them - a few of them have seen it from last year - but making sure it’s really clear for them how we’re going to start the season.
“A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy and attention to detail and hopefully they’re taking the stuff that we give them on board and we’ll need to hit the ground running - because we need to.”