HEED ARE WRITING THEIR OWN STOREY...

GATESHEAD player-coach Louis Storey has given an insight into what has been a hectic period of change at the International Stadium.

The departures of loan signings Billy Chadwick, Archie Mair and Kyran Lofthouse and the permanent sale of Stephen Wearne to MK Dons further depleted a Heed squad already shorn of the services of long-term injury victims Greg Olley and Robbie Tinkler.

That forced interim manager Rob Elliot into quickfire action in the transfer market as the former Newcastle United goalkeeper completed the permanent addition of midfielder Ben Worman and the loan signing of Middlesbrough youngster Jack Stott.

Chelsea and Wales Under-21 goalkeeper Eddie Beach will spend the remainder of the season on Tyneside and Cambridge United defender Mamadou Jobe will also remain at the International Stadium until the end of the campaign after impressing during an initial two-month loan.

The rebuild continued this week after Cardiff City attacking midfielder Kieran Evans agreed to a half-season loan move to the North East and Welling United’s highly-rated winger Kain Adom was persuaded to join the Heed on an 18-month deal.

Storey admitted the last month had been a significant challenge for Tynesiders interim manager Rob Elliot and his coaching staff and stressed there is a need for patience to be shown in the coming weeks and months.

He told The NLP: “The last couple of weeks have created a lot of change and it’s been, not back to the drawing board, but we have taken a few steps back and we have had to build it up again.

“It’s a really fine balance between not accepting things too easily because of those changes and there are bits we will reflect and have already reflected on.

“We’ve said we don’t mind that as long as we are trying the right things and trying to buy into the concepts and play our way. But there are some things that need to be nipped in the bud.

“We will need to be patient but we can build on what has been put in place here.”

Gateshead have also allowed striker Aidan Rutledge to extend his loan spell at Scarborough Athletic until the end of the season after he scored eight goals in his first 12 appearances for the National League North club.

Although there were some calls for the talented frontman to be recalled, Heed boss Elliot has insisted the decision was taken with Rutledge’s longterm development in mind.

He explained: “We need to make it completely clear that Aidan is a player we have high hopes for, and we’re not going to rush his development or stand in the way of what is going to develop him into becoming a top player by fixing a short-term need for us.

“All the while I’ve been here, and especially now going forward, we’ll do what’s right for the club and the player in both the short-term and in the longterm.

“I’ve had good chats with Aidan, and there are things he needs to work on and things he does brilliantly, so he’s in a really good place.”