Barnet FC is delighted to announce that Mark Robson has been appointed as The Bees' new Head Coach. In a comprehensive transformation of the club's footballing strategy, Mark will be overseeing the running of First Team matters. However, another major part of his role will be to aid the development of Academy football at The Hive Training Centre. The appointment comes after weeks of extensive interviews with select candidates who were eager to take the helm of the club following the departures of Lawrie Sanchez and Martin Allen respectively - the latter who was brought in for the last three games of the 2011-2012 Season to maintain The Bees' League 2 status.
43-year-old Robson is widely regarded as one of the best qualified coaches in the professional game, holding a UEFA Pro License and previously coaching under managers such as Alan Curbishley, Les Reed and Alan Pardew. He brings with him a wealth of experience and the ability to manage professional footballers of all ages and abilities, having worked as Charlton Athletics' Development Coach. This position was then followed by his appointment as Assistant Head Coach to Les Reed. His more recent roles have seen him work as Assistant Manager at Gillingham and as Peterborough United's First Team Coach under Darren Ferguson. His playing career saw him represent the likes of Exeter City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Charlton Athletic and Notts County, where he finally hung up his boots in 1999.
The move is seen by the club as a major shift in our footballing philosophy where, previously, we have appointed a Manager whose sole focus was to oversee First Team selection and tactics - this has seen us battle relegation on the last day of the previous three seasons. The aim now is to establish a 'pure football brand' where only highly-qualified coaches will be taking charge of all aspects of football within Barnet FC, from the Academy all the way through to the First Team.
Speaking about the appointment of Mark Robson, and the new structure of the club, Barnet FC's Director of Football, Paul Fairclough, said, "I want the club to become renowned for the way they pass the ball and try to play their way through opposition, as opposed to over them. Obviously, results are important but those results can be achieved by playing good, entertaining football. The season we were promoted from the Conference the side played some useful stuff. Things have moved on now and we have a fantastic Centre of Excellence producing good results at all levels by teaching the kids to pass and support, as opposed to using brute force. One of our major problems in the past has been noticed when some of our young scholars were called into train with the First Team - they were lost as everything they were taught in the Academy went out of the window. We need a structure that recognises and complements what goes on at Barnet's grass roots level. We need a philosophy of playing the game that flows right through the club, including the First Team. It does not make sense to do one thing then the complete opposite just when the fruit is about to ripen."
He continued, "With this in mind, rather than have a Football Manager with some coaching skills, I believe we need a Head Coach who can be taught management skills. To assist Barnet in establishing a footballing philosophy we have appointed Mark Robson as our new "Head Coach/Manager". Mark is a highly skilled, highly qualified and respected coach in the professional game. He will not waiver from his beliefs. I am convinced that if results were not going in our favour, Mark would look for new solutions without compromising our philosophy and his personal beliefs on how the game should be played. In Mark Robson we have secured the services of a forward-thinking coach who will lead the club along a new and exciting pathway. I truly see this as a new dawn for Barnet Football Club."
Barnet FC Chairman, Tony Kleanthous, also spoke about the club's new footballing structure, "I am proud of what our youth policy has achieved in such a short space of time. Academy 2 status means a financial commitment of £1m per annum in the football club's Youth Development Policy and, coupled with the world class facilities available at The Hive, we hope to attract some of the best coaches in football. This season we are also looking to introduce an Under 21 Development Squad to provide a link through for the youth players into the First Team. This structure will be overseen by Paul Fairclough, our Director of Football."
As well as taking up a key role within The Bees' new footballing structure Head Coach, Mark Robson, will be also be responsible for recommending players and coaching staff to bring in. However, no further announcement can be made by Barnet Football Club as to the developments on this matter at present.
