Neilson happy to extend Hatters stay

Town confirmed last week that Brabin had signed a new two-year deal, while his coaching staff of Neilson, goalkeeping coach Dmitri Kharine and physio Simon Parsell will all stay on as well.

Neilson, pictured right, said: “We had a big meeting on Tuesday, it went really well

“Everybody puts ideas on the table and at the end of the day, the gaffer tells us what he wants.,

“We put our ideas into the pot and eventually the gaffer says yes we’ll do this or we’ll do that.

“We all get on really well, it’s a happy family.”

Despite missing out on promotion to the Football League, Brabin was the board’s number one choice to lead them this season, something Neilson agreed with.

He continued: “I think, like a lot of clubs, you need to have a contingency plan and know what’s going to happen if a manager leaves.

“I think that was always the plan we had here.

“Gary Brabin was a manager at Cambridge and did a great job there as he got them into the play-off final.

“We did well last season but just didn’t get over the finishing line.

“This year, as a manager and as a staff, we must make sure we duck over the finishing line.”

Neilson has now been at the club since June 2008, but although he has progressed to assistant boss, his heart remains as youth team development manager.

He said: “I came as youth team coach three years ago, did that for six months and also helped out Mick (Harford) with the first team.

“Then for the last two years my job title changed a little bit to youth development.

“I count that as my role in the football club. The job titles have changed but my role hasn’t.

“I always help out with the first team and then the young lads in the development squad and U18s and I will continue to do that.

“I love being on the pitch and coaching the kids.

“The development squad need more as they are still learning their game.

“With the first team it is more organisation and getting the right players.”

Brabin himself was delighted that Neilson, Kharine and Parsell would remain as his trusted lieutenants as he added: “We’ve got a good relationship between us all.

“Alan Neilson and I get on great – he’s a hard worker and everything I want in an assistant, he’s got.”