Stuart Watkiss is back at Grimsby Town as the club’s new head of youth to replace the outgoing Adam Smith who is stepping down from the role at the end of the month.
The former Mariners assistant and caretaker took training for the first time earlier this week and admitted that he was pleased by what he saw.
“It’s nice to be back,” he said. “The lads did well – if it continues like that we won’t have any problems.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting the youngsters and getting to work with them on the training field.
“I get great satisfaction from working with the young players and trying to develop them.
“I will now be looking at the Youth set-up and looking at ways to hopefully improve it.
“It’s obviously going to take me time to settle in and see how it all operates, though.”
Watkiss, who has previously worked in a similar capacity at Mansfield and Barnsley will take charge of Town’s youth-team for the first time tonight when they face North Ferriby in an FA Youth Cup qualifier at Blundell Park.
