Martin Paterson is now the new head coach of Notts County. This change brings thrilling updates to the coaching staff, as Andy Edwards and Sam Slocombe join the team.
Paterson, 38, transitioned from a distinguished playing career as a forward, earning 200 appearances across England’s top two divisions and 22 caps for Northern Ireland, to an emerging managerial talent with notable coaching stints both domestically and internationally.
Recently, Paterson really stood out while he was with Burton Albion, helping the team stay in League One earlier in 2024. He showed he knows how to handle tough situations and motivate the players. Before that, he made a name for himself as the assistant head coach to Michael Duff at three different EFL teams. He even got to work internationally with Phil Neville at Inter Miami in the MLS.
Speaking about Paterson’s arrival, Director of Football Roberto Gagliardi expressed considerable optimism, remarking: “We’re hugely excited to introduce Martin as our new Head Coach. Despite still being in the early stages of what we believe will be a tremendously successful coaching career, Martin has been entrusted with several senior roles, both in the UK and USA, by highly-respected figures within the game."
According to Gagliardi, Paterson’s style aligns seamlessly with the club’s footballing philosophy. “In our conversations with him, it’s been clear that he shares our vision of playing dynamic, progressive football,” he continued. “As much as the club’s DNA will remain the same in terms of our desire to dominate the ball, we believe he may bring more intensity and directness to our play. Martin wants his teams to be extremely hard-working, well-organised and difficult to play against – characteristics which were key to his success at Burton having become their manager in very challenging circumstances.”
Club owners Chris and Alex Reedtz echoed this enthusiasm, highlighting Paterson’s determination and winning mindset: “In our discussions with Martin, he has demonstrated immense passion, determination and ambition – underpinned by a fixation on winning. We’ve spoken with him at length about our vision for the club and how he’ll fit into our structure and he’s excited to play a leading role in our new approach.”
Completing the refreshed coaching staff, Andy Edwards joins as Assistant Head Coach from his role at the Football Association, where he coached England’s promising youth talents since 2017. Edwards’ coaching repertoire also includes roles with Arsenal’s academy and senior positions at Leyton Orient, backed by extensive experience gained from a respected playing career.
Gagliardi, having previously collaborated with Edwards at Leyton Orient, praised his impact, stating: “His tactical understanding and knowledge of the game left a lasting impression on me – as did his leadership qualities and ability to adapt to the very challenging circumstances the club found itself in at the time. Andy’s a widely-respected coach with a firm, fair and inclusive style which has supported the development of England’s best emerging players over the last eight years – his knowledge of whom we believe can help with our recruitment strategies."
Meanwhile, long-serving goalkeeper Sam Slocombe steps into the role of First Team Coach, extending his commitment to the club after six dedicated seasons at Meadow Lane. Currently pursuing his UEFA A Licence, Slocombe is already a fond figure at the club and has impressed owners through his recent coaching assistance.
Chris and Alex Reedtz commented warmly on Slocombe’s transition from player to coach: “Sam, of course, needs little introduction to our supporters. He’s a brilliant character with a genuine love for the club and excellent relationships within the squad. Beyond that, he’s already demonstrated his immense promise as a coach by stepping up to support our first-team staff in recent times. We’re delighted to give him the opportunity to take his first steps into a full-time coaching role and we know that, alongside Andy, he will be a tremendous support to Martin."
In an ambitious strategic change, Notts County have also formed a Technical Board, comprising Paterson, Edwards, Slocombe, Gagliardi, Director of Performance Dr David Rhodes, and the Reedtz brothers, to enhance decision-making processes around team and player performance, data insights, and overall club football strategy.
Paterson will wield ultimate responsibility for matchday decisions, guided and strengthened by the collaborative board’s insights and extensive data analysis provided in real time. This innovative approach underscores the club’s determination to leverage their leading-edge data model, developed carefully over recent years, to support a sustainable and successful future.
Explaining the formation of the Technical Board, the Reedtz brothers stated: “Over the past six years we have been gradually implementing our model at the club, a process which naturally takes time. However, we believe that now is the time to make an even stronger commitment to our model – hence our desire to create a structured framework which enables specialist individuals to give their own perspective on various aspects of the club’s football strategy.”
Martin Paterson is set to be officially introduced to the media at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, as Notts County look ahead with renewed optimism and a clear strategy for continued progression on and off the pitch.
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