Magnay relishing his return to Gateshead

Pools go to Gateshead, one of Magnay’s former clubs in the National League today.

Magnay was part of the Heed defence in the 2014 play-off final, as Money’s Cambridge made a return to the Football League.

Now Money and Magnay plan to get Pools back there, but they remain some distance from it just yet.

Magnay, impressive on Saturday as Pools were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Havant and Waterlooville, said: “Training has been good, you always try to take on new ideas with a new manager coming in. He knows the game inside out, very experienced. I’ve played against his teams and always felt I would like to play in his teams and play under him.

“There’s a lot of things we agree on, understand and get on board with him. It’s important we make those changes quickly. He made it clear we needed to hit the ground running when he came in, so it’s important not to lose this one.’’

Magnay is now working under his sixth permanent manager at Pools since being signed by Ronnie Moore in June 2015.

He added: “We are all delighted with the appointment. He needs a little time to work out the squad, the system. We played a back four on Saturday and that could change, he is still feeling us out and I feel this is a real positive change.

“He is cracking the whip, a bit of a disciplinarian and I think we may need that. So it’s all positive in terms of a new manager.

“His teams have always been organised. I was at Gateshead and his Cambridge side beat us at Wembley in the play-off final.

“They were organised, with experience and those are things we need. With time under his belt here we have the personnel to take those ideas on board and become a solid unit. There’s an emphasis on his sessions on the final third, so he’s identified the areas we need to improve and we are all on board with what he wants to do.’’

Magnay was paired with Andrew Davies in a back four at the weekend, Money switching from the three-man defence which Pools have favoured under Bates this season.

He had plenty of possession, starting moves from the back and bringing the ball out of defence when he could.

Magnay added: “I had a lot of the ball at the back, we have worked on playing out from the back, but not in the way it’s done all the time, needlessly if you like.

“If it’s on, if the opposition are disjointed then let’s play. We have in midfield a lot of good technical, ball players and we need to get them in between the lines and the big emphasis has been forward passing, forward runs and we hope to see that work on the pitch.

“He knows what we need, he knows the division and how to be successful in it. In terms of the transition of league football and where we are now, he is the perfect appointment. His ideas he is getting across are really resonating with the squad.’’

Today’s opponents have made an impression this season, sitting seventh in the table and they won at Maidstone on Saturday.

Steve Watson has led his side into the play-off zone after a summer of turmoil when the club’s future was left somewhat uncertain.

And Magnay is looking forward to returning to the International Stadium today.

He said: “I didn’t play there last season, so it’s one to look forward to for me. I remember sitting in the main stand last season looking across and the support was fantastic – with over 2,000 supporters there. We are looking to go one better and win there this time.

“It would breed confidence in the squad. We have a target of ten points from 12, so we need to get going.

“Gateshead have done well this season, I think they have benefitted from the problems they had over the summer. Expectations were nil. No pressure on them and they are playing without fear from what I gather.

“There’s no pressure on them and while attendances are creeping up, they haven’t got that hostility behind them if it’s not going well. It benefits them to pay with freedom, fair play for what they have done this season. Steve Watson is doing an admirable job.’’