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MICKY MOORE FEATURE
21st February 2012 10:56


Moore the merrier for background role
Nottingham Post, Saturday, February 18, 2012

'WHO?' was the simplest of questions being asked by every Mansfield Town fan when they heard the news last summer.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15265125-detail/story.html

As Micky Moore was unveiled as the Stags' new assistant manager, no-one had heard of him, let alone knew his football background.

A few months on and the 38-year-old is instantly recognisable in the dug-out alongside boss Paul Cox, furiously waving his arms and conveying instructions to the players out in the pitch.

Supporters will now also know that Moore came from Solihull Moors in the Blue Square North, a level that has also provided the likes of players Lindon Meikle, Lee Stevenson and Matt Rhead, as well as manager Paul Cox.

Yet, apart from that, few will know much about the boss's right-hand man; the coach and tactician who has helped Mansfield lose only five league games all season.

Quite frankly, though, Moore is more than happy for it to stay that way.

He would rather quietly go about his business than court the spotlight.

"Because he's been down the road at Eastwood, people would have known a little bit about Paul before he came, but when I was brought in I know everyone was thinking: 'who the hell is he?'" said Moore.

"There are some who probably still wonder who I am, but as long as no one is asking questions about me because I'm not doing my job right, that's fine by me.

"Paul has asked me if I would like to do the media sometimes, but I don't feel I need to do that to be part of it.

"Paul is very good at that side of things and I'm happy with the way it is, being around the players. That is the most important part from my point of view."

Moore is delighted with the way things have developed in tandem with Cox since they first came together ahead of the start of 2011-12.

Moore compares their flourishing relationship to that of a new couple.

He said: "We complement each other well. He is at training every day, of course, but he allows me to run the day-to-day coaching sessions as I want.

"We have to make decisions about how we are going to play and I am allowed to put that over to the players.

"It's massively important that we have that trust between us.

"It's like when you go out with a girl for the first time and then start in a relationship in that things have gradually blossomed.

"We are both in love with the game and Paul is passionate to do well, as am I."

While much of Moore's work is conducted on the training ground and in front of a tactics board with players. Cox is less hands-on but has a wider overall role.

The former strikes believes they are similar in having contrasting qualities that work well together to a high-profile pairing from just down the road.

"I think how he wanted to go about things, how he wanted to manage the team, has suited me perfectly," said Moore.

"He's a very good manager – if you look at his record it's very impressive – and someone who I wanted to work with.

"If I do ever go back into management, I would like to learn off Paul in the meantime.

"My strengths are coaching and the tactical side of things and he is a very good man-manager. It's a bit like Clough and Taylor."

Birmingham-born Moore's first club as a player was Derby County where he came through in the same youth team as Lee Carsley, Dean Sturridge, former Stags Tom Curtis and Mark Stallard.

He went on to earn a one-year professional deal but then moved onto Swansea City for two-and-a-half years.

However, a back injury in his mid-20s, forced Moore to give up the full-time game and think seriously about his future.

He continued playing in non-league football until the age of 29 and then immediately began his coaching qualifications, securing his UEFA A licence.

That set him up for a career in the dug-out that eventually saw him quit his full-time job to come to Field Mill

 

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