Photo: Kieran McManus for The FA
New Newcastle United head coach Tanya Oxtoby says she is “privileged” to join the club.
In her first interview after her appointment was confirmed, she said that her initial reaction was that she was “excited and honoured”, adding that it was “such an amazing club, and privileged to be part of the next journey, and really exciting times ahead and looking forward to getting started.”
She went on: “When you look across what the team has done over the last few years it’s a really exciting project and my job is to come in and add to that. Obviously we’re looking at promotion. We’re a very ambitious club, it’s a one-club city, and the fan base is amazing. I’m really excited to get going and be a part of an amazing journey.”
Oxtoby has signed a contract that will keep her at the club until June 2029. She has most recently been manager of the Northern Ireland Women’s National Team, where she spent just over two years. Prior to that, she was Emma Hayes’s assistant at Chelsea, and before that head coach of Bristol City.
She also spent time in assistant coach roles at Scotland, Birmingham City, Australia Under-20s and Perth Glory as well as managing Nottingham Forest at the start of her coaching career.
Tanya Oxtoby: Not in charge for cup game v Everton
Newcastle United’s director of women’s football Grace Williams said in a media statement: “We are delighted to welcome Tanya to the club. She brings with her a great amount of experience and it was clear throughout the process that she matches the drive and ambition that we have to take Newcastle United Women forward.
“Tanya knows our team and the quality that it has within it, and she is excited to work with and develop our players as we move into the next part of our journey.
“As a leadership team, we were all impressed with Tanya and believe she is the perfect fit to help us embed the long-term strategy that will allow us to thrive beyond this season.”
However, Oxtoby will not be in charge for Sunday’s Subway Women’s League Cup fixture against Everton, with interim head coach Claire Ditchburn remaining in post.
