MALCOLM CROSBY is hoping to make loan signings from all three major North-East clubs as he looks to guide Gateshead back to the Football League.

Crosby took charge of the Vanarama Conference side yesterday, and immediately set about the task of assembling a squad for next season.

As things stand, he only has around 11 players who are either under contract or set to be offered a new deal, and while a handful of permanent signings are in the pipeline, the loan market is likely to be key to Gateshead’s fortunes next season.

Crosby will be contacting Middlesbrough academy chief Dave Parnaby and assistant manager Steve Agnew, who he has worked with in the past, and will also be in touch with former Sunderland colleagues Paul Bracewell and Kevin Ball in an attempt to sign some emerging youngsters from the Academy of Light.

Having had two spells working alongside Steve McClaren at Oxford United and Middlesbrough, he is also hoping Newcastle’s new head coach will be receptive to his advances once his appointment is confirmed later this week.

“Steve doesn’t normally give me anything, but I will definitely be knocking on his door,” said Crosby, who was working as the head of recruitment at troubled League One club Blackpool before agreeing to succeed Gary Mills at Gateshead International Stadium.

“Dave Parnaby is fantastic, Aggers (Agnew) is one of the top coaches in the country and I’m sure they will also do anything they can to help.

“Then I’ve also got Brace and Bally at Sunderland – they’re all there. It’s great, although I don’t know how many loans I can have. But there will also be players who get released from those clubs.”

Crosby’s previous spell in North-East management saw him lead Sunderland to the 1992 FA Cup final a matter of months after taking over from Denis Smith at Roker Park.

His side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Wembley, and when Sunderland struggled in the following season, he was famously dismissed in the wake of a postponed game at Tranmere that saw the Pools Panel rule in the Prenton Park club’s favour.

He regards the Wembley appearance as the high point of his managerial career, but claims taking Gateshead back into the Football League would trump anything he has achieved so far.

“It would be better because we would have actually won something,” he said. “It was great at Sunderland and it was a fantastic thing that the players did - but we lost. People forget who came second.

“I’ve got to make it realistic and sell it to the players. The players, when they walk on the training pitch, I’ve got to make them believe they can get promoted.

“It’s a great opportunity for me because I haven’t been coaching for a couple of years, I’ve been in the recruitment side. But you don’t forget what you have to do on the football field.

“This is a good club and the progress it’s made over the last few years is fantastic. I just want to finish the job off and get promoted.”