‘THERE’S WORK TO BE DONE’
NEW FIRST TEAM COACH LOOKS FORWARD
NEW Reading FC first-team coach James Oliver-Pearce is keen for the club to look forward with a fresh approach.
He joined Paul Ince’s coaching staff in what has been a summer full of changes on and off the pitch for the Royals.
“It’s been a big change after being at Wimbledon for 10 years,” said Oliver-Pearce.
“Coming into a new environment with the resources and facilities we’ve got here is a nice change.
“The grass is lovely everyday. The players have been brilliant, the staff have been brilliant so I’m finding my feet gradually and now looking forward to the start of the season.
“I worked with Mark (Bowen) and Eddie (Niedzwiecki) when they came into Wimbledon last season.
“While there I tried to give them the support that they needed, like you would with any manager. Whether that was through training sessions or giving opinions.
“Mark came here and said the club were interested in me coming along which was an opportunity I could not turn down.”
The new Royals coach will be returning to Wimbldeon shortly when Reading face the League Two side in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, July 19.
He continued: “Wimbledon have a real family feel so you build strong relationships with people in an industry that often loses its human touch.
“Being there for that length of time I knew at some point I needed a fresh challenge.
“It will be interesting to go down there, I’ve still got a lot of friends down there and know the fans well.
“The relationship with the fans was always close. It’ll be strange to be in a different kit.”
Despite being under a transfer embargo, the coaching staff are keen to recruit new players this summer while giving an opportunity for younger players to develop.
“There is work to be done with bringing in players, that’s clear for everyone to see,” Oliver-Pearce continued.
“All we can do is do the best with what we have got at the moment with the senior players and the young players stepping up. Their attitude has been excellent.
“Paul (Ince) has his standards and expectations and we’re all falling into that to support him as best as we can.
“I don’t know a lot about what’s gone before but whatever has happened, has happened and we’ve got an opportunity to build something now with a fresh set of staff and largely a different group of players. We have to look forward as a club.”
Oliver-Pearce described his best assets in coaching as the tactical side of the game.
He continued: “I have a bit of new school and old school mixed in. You have to get to know players as people, they have families and children and have lived in different countries so that’s an important part.
“I’ve always considered myself as a tactical coach, I really enjoy that side and I think that’s where my biggest strengths are.
“My previous experience of having less resources has led to me being more creative and having to think outside the box to find different ways of getting success.
“Ultimately we want to give the players the best platform to get a result on matchday.
“There have been plenty of ups and downs, plenty of learning experiences which I’m grateful for because that moulded me into the coach I am now.
“Once I got the feel for coaching and the buzz for trying to help players get better and watching the kids develop, it’s brilliant.”
“I’ve still got lots to learn and improve upon but I’d like to think what I’ve gained from having less of a playing career and having more years in coaching has been a real positive.”