Meet the backroom team

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HARRIERS face will be getting used to one or two new faces in the Aggborough dugout this season.

As the new campaign approaches, we’re pleased to be welcoming some additions to Adam Murray’s first-team staff.

Mario Oliveira has joined the Club as First Team coach having previously coached at Nottingham Forest and Lincoln City, while Murray’s new Technical Assistant, Luca Nicosia, worked with the boss at Eastbourne Borough.

The pairing supplement existing staff at Aggborough, Head of Football Operations, Kevin Bunn, Goalkeeping Coach Tom Palmer – who remains a registered player – Strength & Conditioning Coach Dan Ludlow, Senior Therapist Ellie Billingham, and Analyst Sam Rush.

Fans will be able to find about more about these staff roles in an upcoming series of ‘Meet the Team’ video features but, to introduce them in his own style, Murray has had this to say about the team he’ll be working most closely with this term:

Mario Oliveira – First Team Coach
I always felt with ‘Assistant Managers’, they always feel like they want to do more and need to do more and, because I’m very hands on, I wanted to go with a different, kind of out-of-the-box thinking this season.

I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to football and the tactical side, so this year I’ve gone for a backroom staff that’s probably based more on thinking and football brains rather than people on the grass.

Mario’s a young coach; he’s been coaching in Nottingham Forest’s academy. A very good technical coach, very good with individuals, a real modern football brain and he’ll test me, he’ll question me and bring new ideas to the camp and his enthusiasm and his passion.

He’s moved to the area which for me says a lot to commit to the process and to the cause and he’s hungry to be successful in his career, so I’m really pleased with bringing Mario in.

Luca Nicosia – Technical Assistant
Another guy who I’ve worked with previously, who came in to work with me as an analyst at Eastbourne over the last couple of years.

Again, he has a really bright brain, understands the level, knows players inside out, tactically very, very good, very aware so you’ll see you’ll see Luca in the dugout a lot with the iPad. He’s another young, hungry, really intense guy. Great personality, the lads love him. He brings a lot of energy. So, yes, a little bit outside of the box thinking, but he’s a really important member of staff.

Tom Palmer – Goalkeeping Coach
I first came across Tom in, I think it was a cup game when I was at Fylde, and he was in goal and we went to a penalty shootout. And I thought: ‘what an absolute plonker,’ because he wound me up so much!

But then I came into the club and obviously he’s gone into the goalkeeping role. And I’m not just saying this because he’s part of my staff, but he will go on to work at the elite level. He’s top, drawer.

He’s obviously very young in his trade, but his ideas, his delivery, his personality, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some top people. He’s going to have a big career, so we are really, really fortunate to have him here, and the work he’s doing with the keepers is fantastic.

He’s been here a long time, so he understands the culture, he understands the club. He’s got real insight into players, which is key, and again, another valuable part of the team.

Dan Ludlow – Strength & Conditioning Coach
This season Dan will come in full-on. Again, another vital part of the cog.

I’ve had a lot of Strength and Conditioning coaches and, again, he’s of such a high level. In my opinion, he shouldn’t be at this level, so we’re really blessed. His mentality and his focus to detail is second to none.

I think when you play the way we do, the physical side has to match up with the tactical side. If it doesn’t, you end up in a really bad place. and I’ve had that before, where things aren’t aligned.

The Chairman has been great in terms of backing us with certain things we need on the data side, that we can literally see everything we’re doing minute by minute, which is vital. So, we can manage players’ loads to hopefully bring down the injury situation, because I know there’s been a lot of injuries here over the last couple of seasons. Dan’s a massive part in terms of getting the players ready, not just physically, but mentally, when you watch him coach and you watch him drive the players, he sets standards and he sets intensity, which we have to have.

Ellie Billingham – Senior Therapist
This is one of the most vital and important roles… Ellie, for a young person, last season was her first season in professional football, so she would have learnt a lot, but again, she’s got a real personality.

She knows what’s needed, she knows what she wants and, ultimately, in that role, she’s got an unbelievable amount of knowledge, which always helps in that position. She offers a different dynamic. She gives us a real good balance to the group and her opinion is highly valued.

Sam Rush – Analyst
If I’m being honest, in a perfect world, I just have ten analysts because I think they’re vital to everything! They allow you not to miss detail and that’s a key component for me.

Sam’s but not just hungry, but he’s got an unbelievable knowledge of football, especially this league and the few leagues above. For someone so young, he sees the game in a real clear way, which is great.

He had a holiday booked, went away, got back at four in the morning, wasn’t due to come into work the next day, but turned up at eight o’clock in the morning ready for training, and that said a lot for me. So, real hunger, real desire to be part of the project, and along with that brings quality. So, it ticks a lot more boxes.

Kevin Bunn – Head of Football Operations (And So Much More)
He’s just a legend. I’ve asked him if he’d adopt me! He’s just so good, I’ve actually got no words for Kev.

I’ve come across a lot of people that do a lot of jobs in football. Sometimes, especially as you come down the league, you have to do that. We all have to do two or three jobs, which is part of the togetherness. But Kev does it, and he does every role with unbelievable quality, so professional.

Sometimes he’ll take a session, sometimes he’ll do a warm-up. Next thing, he’s doing paperwork, then he’s doing the kit, but everything is at the elite level. So, I’m not sure where we’d be without him, if I’m being totally honest.

So, I think that says it all and he’s respected by everyone – players and staff and everybody that’s here. So, I would go as far as saying he’s the most valuable member of staff just because of what he brings for the table. Sometimes I have moments in the day where I think I’m just going to ring him and ask him what I should have for dinner, just because I know he’s got so many good ideas!

But he’s a top, top man, top bloke and he’s going to be vital to what we do.

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