Bit by bit, the possible identity of 'The Third Man' was slipping out today.
?We're just waiting on the club to agree to release the coach,? said Roeder yesterday, about to drop the biggest clue yet as to who he had in mind as City's new first team coach and reserve boss following Lee Clark's arrival at his side last week.
Clark, of course, comes in as the new gaffer's No2. High time to come in No3…
But clues-wise there were still no names, no club. Just an age. And the fact that, for now, the lad's manager was playing a little hard to get.
?I don't think he can stand in his way, really,? added Roeder. ?He might try, but I don't think he can stand in his way if the coach wants to come here.
?But it might just take a day or two longer now.?
And if we all thought Clark was a younsgter at 35, his prospective coaching pal is, according to Roeder, even younger.
?The other coach as well, he's desperate to be a manager as well, but he's only about 28,? said the City chief, adding a few more character traits to add to the picture.
?Again hugely motivated. He makes things happen and, hopefully, we'll be able to make an announcement by Wednesday.?
Add those little snippets to the fact that Roeder admitted on the day of his arrival that he had worked with both young men before, then old Ferret's eyes were starting to turn back to Tyneside where one Adam Sadler started to tick a few boxes.
Not least in why Newcastle might be more reluctant to play ball. Because the one-time United Academy goalkeeping coach has recently found himself working with both Big Sam's two, senior keepers – Shay Given and Steve Harper – after their usual coach, Terry Gennoe, was forced to take early retirement through a bad back.
Allardyce has yet to find a new keeper coach. But, according to the Evening Chronicle last month, Sadler isn't keen.
'Assistant academy director Adam Sadler is currently doing the job, but he does not want to specialise in goalkeeping and is more interested in general coaching,? the paper's long-time Toon reporter Alan Oliver reported.
All of which suggests a young man keen to get on – hence Roeder's line that the moves to Norwich for both Clark and the in-coming young coach would be seen as a promotion for the pair.
Before Gennoe's arrival back at St James after a lengthy spell at Celtic where he coached the young David Marshall, Roeder had already promoted Sadler once to work with the Given and Harper. He made an impression then.
“Adam slides back into an important role and has a real feather in his cap now having worked with Shay and Steve for three months, both of whom rate him very highly,” Roeder said at the time of Gennoe's return.
The killer piece of evidence was, however, his age. Sadler is 28.
Whether Big Sam is going to let a second young member of his staff come out to play is the next big question. Roeder is clearly hoping so.
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