Graeme Jones has had a whirlwind 15 months since arriving at Newcastle United. In January last year, the Magpies stumped up around £250,000 to poach the highly-rated coach from Championship side Bournemouth.
Ironically, Jones was working underneath Jason Tindall - the man he now shares a joint position with - at the Cherries, and alongside coaches Stephen Purches, Dan Hodges and Simon Weatherstone. It was the appraisal Eddie Howe received from his trusted backroom team about Jones that convinced the Toon boss to keep him as part of his inner circle.
Speaking after his appointment, Howe said: "Coming with me are Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches, Simon Weatherstone and Dan Hodges. Graeme Jones is still in the mix and I'm delighted to work with Graeme.”
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"Adding someone to my backroom team was something that I'd looked at and considered during my break and it's something that I positively wanted to do. So having Graeme already here in situ and is someone I know, respect and really like, I think it's going to be a perfect match for us."
The tactical impact Jones had on Newcastle last season led some fans to believe he held more authority than Steve Bruce. The Magpies adopted a ‘false nine’ formation upon his arrival, with Miguel Almiron playing centrally and Callum Wilson shifted out wide. Jones’ first game in the dugout saw Newcastle claim a rare 2-0 victory at Goodison Park and his input was evident.
An enhanced reputation prompted England boss Gareth Southgate to appoint Jones on a short-term basis to bolster his Euro 2020 hopes. Training drills posted by the Three Lions media team showed the Gateshead native - Newcastle’s sole English representative at the tournament - put the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson through their places. The 52-year-old was an important cog in the wheel as England made history to reach the final for the first time.
A poor start to the 21/22 season saw Bruce lose his job and Jones tasked with steadying the ship during a turbulent time on Tyneside. Fan excitement was at fever pitch following the £300million takeover but, on the field, Newcastle were struggling. The interim boss lost 3-0 to Chelsea but picked up two vital away points at Crystal Palace and Brighton to keep the club ticking over until Howe was appointed.
Since then, Jones has not been as visible in the dugout but his role remains important. Following speculation over his future after Howe’s arrival, he said: "The owners assured me of my future. They know I'm not here to put cones out. I'm prepared to get my hands dirty and have responsibility.”
Jones may have taken a backseat publicly but he remains hands-on behind the scenes at St James’ Park. His coaching skills and experience of operating at the highest level with Everton, Belgium and England make him a valuable weapon in the Newcastle arsenal. Howe namechecked Jones while discussing his manager of the month award, calling his influence an ‘integral part’ of the setup.
“Any individual accolade is a real statement for the staff and players, not one person,” he said. "The coaching team has been very, very good and Graeme Jones, who I hadn’t worked with before, I must praise him too, because he’s become an integral part of my team. This isn’t about me, but about the collective.”
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