Newcastle Jets have confirmed the appointment of former Socceroo Clayton Zane as its Foxtel National Youth League Head Coach for the 2015/16 season.
Zane, who has previously held a variety of roles with the Jets, including with its Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League and Foxtel NYL sides, has been working in the Emerging Jets program based out of Northern New South Wales Football’s Speers Point facility over the past five months.
A born and bred Novocastrian, Zane said that he is delighted to have been chosen to lead the club’s youth team again having generated a strong understanding with Jets Head Coach Scott Miller and his Senior Assistant, Jean-Paul de Marigny, since their respective arrivals in Newcastle.
“I have a very good relationship with the two coaches with the first team and with the people that are overseeing the Emerging Jets program,” Zane said.
“We have a good opportunity to establish a really strong link between the Emerging Jets and the first team, with the youth team in the middle.
“Having worked with the Emerging Jets now for the last five months I definitely have a grasp of the players coming through the ranks locally.
“These players will be important for us in the development of the youth squad, and hopefully we can help some of them through to the first team over time,” he said.
Newcastle Jets Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Eland, said that Zane will bring significant experience, but also passion to the position.
“Anyone who spends time speaking with Clayton will quickly understand the desire he has to coach and improve young footballers,” Eland said.
“He [Zane] is also very proud of his roots, and shows a clear willingness to make a difference to the game in the region which he’s from.”
Zane commenced his duties with the club’s youth squad this week.
