Both Mark Yates and Shaun North have this week completed their pro licence qualification.
We are pleased to confirm that both Mark Yates and Shaun North have completed their pro licence qualifications this week.Both members of the Whaddon Road backroom staff have been present at St. Georges' Park this week and they have now completed their qualification ahead of full pre-season training which starts next week (Tuesday 1 July).
Mark and Shaun completed their pro licence course with a presentation evening last night and received their qualifications from Derby boss Steve McClaren.
Mark and Shaun have spent almost 2 years studying for the qualification and have worked alongside other strong coaches such as former Robins boss Keith Downing, Dagenham & Redbridge manager Wayne Burnett and Manchester United assistant manager and legend, Ryan Giggs.
Their course took them as far as Turkey at one stage and it has been hard work for both men but Mark admitted that it had been an important step for the both of them.
"It has been hard work but I am really, really pleased," said Mark.
"It's all done now and the hard work has paid off but, for me, it was about working with the group as much as the qualification. Being able to network with some great coaches has been really rewarding and the experience has been fantastic."
The Cheltenham Town squad have been in on three strength & conditioning sessions with fitness coach Ian Hutton this week but will now begin their tough pre-season schedule from Tuesday.
Mark told ctfc.com that he had already been in deep discussion with new first team coach Shaun North about next season but admitted they now could not wait to meet up with the players and kick off the 2014-15 campaign.
"I hope our experience with the pro licence can really benefit Cheltenham," he explained.
"We won't make massive changes but we will do our best to use what we have learnt in the coming season. We had a feedback session this morning and it was so important to talk with other coaches about their experience and I think that has been just as important to me.
"We have a meeting on Monday morning and then we go into training on Tuesday but I've given Shaun the weekend off because he deserves it. Come Monday we will be trying to nail a few things down but we cannot wait to get going now."
We will bring you news from pre-season training here on ctfc.com.