His team have won their last three games
Development team coach Barry Nicholson has told the Club’s media department about his enjoyment of coaching the side and hopes more of his players can break into the first team just like Nick Haughton.Speaking about Haughton’s rise into the first team Nicholson said: “We sat him down in the summer when it all started and said this is a chance for you, if you shine in this development group the manager is going to have a little look. To be fair to the manager he has been at every single game.
“Nick has just taken everything on board that we have asked him to do since July and the manager has decided to put him in. I think he gave the side a big spark when he came on and gave the place a lift. He’s buzzing at the minute.”
The Scot’s side have also been in impressive form recently beating Bolton Wanderers, Morecambe and Tranmere Rovers, with the win over Bolton being the standout result for Nicholson:
“It’s probably the best performance we have had since we started the group. We seem to be getting the lads together now, and look like more of a team, it has taken a bit of time but it’s really good.
“As long as we keep progressing I’m happy. We just want these guys to improve, try and improve themselves daily and every game they go into to do so in the right manner.”
Adding: “Winning is not the be all and end all at this level but it’s nice if you can get a group that want to win games and know how to win games.
“Obviously in the cup competition against Morecambe and Tranmere we’ve had a little bit of help from some first team lads but the young lads that have been involved have done well.”
The former Scotland international is hoping that in the coming weeks more of his side can able to break into the first team with manager Graham Alexander proving willing to promote members of his squad:
“We’ve seen that the manager isn’t frightened to put them in if they’re good enough and willing to put the work in. He’s given Nick have a little taste of it and I’m hoping that the rest that we have signed get into that first team squad.”
He remains keen to arrange more matches for his youthful side and is also still looking to bring in further recruits:
“We are trying to organise a game for next week. We still have trialists in, and we are looking all the time so it’s important that we keep getting games and seeing these lads.
“It’s all very well seeing them in training but we need to see them in proper games so we’ll try and get as many games as we can.”
Speaking about his own career which came to an end in the summer the 36-year-old admitted he is not missing the game, simply due to the enjoyment of coaching his young squad:
“It’s brilliant. I thought I would miss playing but I don’t. Strangely enough I don’t miss it at all.
“I think it is just when you see the lads go out on the park everyday and giving you their all, that’s where the enjoyment comes from for me now and it’s been excellent.”