Nottingham Forest coach Andy Reid says is relishing the opportunity to learn from boss Steve Cooper and his staff.
The Irishman linked up with the first-team group for their pre-season training camp in Spain, and went on to be appointed to the role on a permanent basis, making the step up from Under-23s boss. It continues a career path which has previously seen him in charge of Ireland’s Under-18s, as well as the Reds’ youth side.
He is now part of a coaching set-up which also includes assistant manager Alan Tate and recent recruit Jamie Robinson. And Reid says a high standard is set as the group oversee Forest’s Premier League return following a 23-year absence.
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“I’m really, really proud. It’s a club that everybody knows means a lot to me,” the 40-year-old told the official website.
“I’ve covered a lot of different roles, as a player and coach as well. To be able to step up is really, really nice.
“I’m proud to be around the first-team and be able to contribute. Even just being able to have a small impact on a match day is really important. But the most important thing is that the manager felt I was the right person to step up and do that.
“There’s probably a nice story surrounding the fact that somebody has been around the club for a bit, but they have to be skilled enough to do the job. I’d like to think that I am.
“I think I’ve done a decent job. My coaching journey has been a good one so far - started off in international football, moved into club football. I feel like I’ve earned my stripes, to a certain extent.
“I feel I’ve got the skill set to be able to do it. I also feel there’s still loads more to come, when you see the quality of the manager, Tatey, Jamie Robinson and the rest of the staff. They work to a really, really high level.
“For me, it’s, ‘what does good look like?’. I’m seeing what good looks like every single day. You want to be a part of that - which I know I can do, and which I think I have done.”
On his appointment, Reid added: “I came back in for pre-season and got a phone call from the gaffer, saying, for the moment, they need somebody to come up and give them a bit of a dig-out. I was really pleased and it seemed to go really well.
“I seemed to fit in and do all the bits that the gaffer wanted from me. I think he was keen that I got a look at what the role entails as well, and make sure it was the right fit. As it turned out, it was, so when he asked me to take the role on a full-time basis, it was really nice.”
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