Mark Cooper spoke exclusively to Magpie Player after being appointed first team manager...
Mark Cooper joins Notts County, having previously managed Football League sides Swindon Town and Peterborough United.
“I’ve been a manager for a few years now. Just going to try and bring a bit of stability, a bit of unity to the place and put a smile on a few faces.”
Notts have struggled for goals, only finding the net once in the last five games, and the new manger says he will look to give the players a freedom to play.
“The first thing is we try and take the reigns of the players a bit, we try and attack, try and entertain people, and get them off their seats. If you can get players playing with a smile on their face then you’re in with a chance.”
“There’s no right way and no wrong way. Whatever you choose to do, try and do it well. But I certainly like to play entertaining football, score goals and have a go at the opposition rather than setting up to not get beat.”
The club have agreed a points total with Mark to extend his deal, and Cooper said it’s a good chance for both sides to show what they can offer, “Both parties get to have a look at each other. I get to have a look at Notts and they get to have a look at me, and at the end of the season if we’ve done alright and we both want to go forward then I don’t see any reason why not.”
Cooper’s first game will be away to Portsmouth on Good Friday and the manager says this gives him time to prepare “I know quite a lot of the players, we’ve got four days training to get things in place. It’s a great game, no one really expects you to go and get anything at Portsmouth. It’s a big club with a lot of quality players. So we can go and have a go and see what happens and we’ll certainly have a go and try and win the game.”