THE future of Stan Cummins as a top-rated coach may lie in my hands. Or, more specifically, my feet.

Cummins, the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder, is being assessed next week for his UEFA B coaching badge.

His appraisal coincides with me taking a Level Two coaching course - one rung below the B award on the FA ladder.

Cummins will be judged on the standard of his training sessions - which is where I come in.

For the purposes of his assessment, he will be coaching me, together with the other 30-odd Level Two candidates.

So, spare a thought for Cummins - who played alongside the great and the good of North-East football between 1976 and 1985.

I just hope one false move from yours truly doesn't scupper his chances.

IT'S time for more Claudio Ranieri-like tinkering with Willington Under-15s as we take on Jarrow in the second round of the League Cup on Sunday.

After we had last weekend off, my players are straining at the leash - but I'll be making wholesale changes to the team that won our last Premier Division game.

Jarrow have won three of their four Third Division fixtures this season, so clearly we can't take victory for granted.

But we seem to have been blessed with a kind League Cup draw - especially when compared to last year, when we met Boldon (who won all 20 of their Premier Division games) in the first round.

Let's hope we can take advantage of our good fortune.

ALL roads from Willington lead to the Stadium of Light tomorrow as my players take in the Sunderland v Walsall game.

My starry-eyed squad will have a tour of the ground and sundry other exciting adventures before taking in the match.

If you see a dozen or more kids running riot, then don't blame me.

And if any of our Newcastle United-supporting players decide to wear their club's colours, I won't be defending them against any disgruntled home fans..