STEVE McCLAREN wants an assistant manager alongside him boasting medals on his CV after being challenged to end Newcastle United’s 46-year wait for silverware as the club’s new head coach.

McClaren was on Tyneside yesterday to sign a three-year deal, with the option of a further five years, which includes significant bonuses if he can lead the Magpies to a trophy and immediately revealed a place in the Premier League’s top eight was also a main objective.

The 54-year-old, who has also been appointed to the club’s board of directors following owner Mike Ashley’s decision to step down from his role as chairman, was gagged from speaking to the independent media on his first official day at work and only did interviews with preferred partners Sky Sports and The Mirror.

But he is understood to have already started his search for an assistant capable of earning instant respect inside the dressing room and is not intent on appointing a Geordie to his backroom team following the decisions to axe John Carver and Steve Stone. Former Newcastle Falcons’ sports psychologist Steve Black does look set for a role.

He is keen to find a No 2 who has achieved things during his playing career and someone displaying the traits of a top coach to help Newcastle develop as a team to help avoid a repeat of last season’s woeful relegation struggle.

McClaren, who will be given the financial backing to rebuild a struggling squad, will be back at the training ground today with the intention of making immediate progress on transforming the team’s fortunes.

He will have further discussions with chief scout Graham Carr, who has also been appointed to the board of directors, and managing director Lee Charnley to take the next step. Newcastle have missed out on Ghana striker Andre Ayew, who signed for Swansea yesterday.

The former England and Middlesbrough boss said: “This is a big club with a wonderful heritage. St James’ Park is like a cathedral on a Saturday afternoon, a symbol for the city and I am excited to be given this opportunity.

“I know how important Newcastle United is to the city and the region. The supporters are some of the most loyal, passionate and devoted in the world. Despite everything they maintain their faith. We owe it to them to do everything we can to reward them with success.

“There’s a lot of work to do, but the club has made it clear about wanting success, and I would not have come here if I didn’t believe they were serious.

“This club has waited far too long to win a trophy. That’s one of my primary objectives here. I’ve already won trophies as a manager, and a club the size of Newcastle United should be winning cups and finishing in the top eight in the Premier League.

“I’m determined to give the supporters of Newcastle United a team they can be proud of. The hard work starts now.”

McClaren led Middlesbrough to the Carling Cup in 2004, ending a 128-year wait for a major honour for the Teesside club. The Yorkshireman, who still lives in the North-East and was brought up in York, then went on to lead Middlesbrough to a UEFA Cup final and Twente to the Dutch league title.

Charnley, who Ashley claims was behind the appointment along with Carr, is well aware of the head coach’s record and has agreed a contract which will see him rewarded for success on the playing field.

It would appear there is a desire to win a trophy once more after a couple of years of admissions to the fans that chasing silverware was not the priority.

Charnley said: “Steve has been tasked to secure a top eight finish in the Premier League and he is also heavily incentivised to try to win a cup competition.

“We recognise supporters’ strong desire to win a trophy, an ambition which the club now shares as Mike Ashley made clear in his comments on the last day of the season. Steve is excited by this and he has our full support in trying to achieve this goal.

“Our immediate focus will be on working with Steve to assess and improve upon our playing squad, as well as appointing individuals to his backroom staff.”

Charnley added: “I am delighted that we have secured the services of one of the best coaches in English football. He has 20 years' experience, including for the national team and at the highest level of European competition.

“He has a proven track record of being an innovative and forward thinking coach and developing and improving players, which was a key quality we sought in the individual to fill this role.

“He also brings with him a great enthusiasm and passion for the job, the club and the city, which he articulated to me very clearly from the outset. This is a huge job which comes with considerable pressures and I am convinced that Steve not only understands the weight of expectation that comes with this role, but that he has the strength of character and professionalism befitting of a club of our size and status.”