Kewell reveals reasons behind Notts County switch

An ambitious Harry Kewell is relishing the challenge of rejuvenating Notts County after signing on as the ailing League Two club's new head coach last week. 

The Caltex Socceroos great left Crawley Town to replace Kevin Nolan following the Magpies' slow start to the campaign, which has yielded a lone point from six matches.

CONFIRMED: Kewell appointed Notts County boss

Kewell enjoyed an encouraging debut season with Crawley as he steered the relegation candidates into mid-table last term, but the young boss felt the lure of reawakening Notts – the oldest professional club in England – was too strong to ignore.

"I was drawn by the ambition of the club and also the challenge of getting Notts off the bottom of the table and up to where we want to be," Kewell told his club website.

"I think the challenge is exciting and will show what I am capable of as a coach, and then I can help to get this club to the level that it wants to be pushed to.

"There's a great crowd here and people underestimate the influence that they can have, especially in League Two.

"The more the supporters get behind the team, the more success we will have and we're going to need to pull together over what will be a tough few months because it takes time to click."

Though they already have plenty of catching up to do, 39-year-old Kewell is setting a high bar for Notts.

"The ambition is simple and it's to win," he said.

"If we win matches we'll be climbing the table up to where we want to be - in the promotion mix. But we've got to take each game as it comes.

"A football club is run by three points - it sets the tone for everything. The fans and the staff coming into work here all feel the pain when we don't win and the happiness when we do.

"I'm keen to develop the players we have. I love to coach and I'm looking forward to improving the lads."

Kewell's first League Two fixture in charge is a trip to ninth-placed Exeter City at midnight on Saturday (AEST).

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This article was originally published on the Socceroos website.
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