Pearson praise from Powys raised Bristol City coach Smith

The Newtown raised coach is the head coach of the club’s women’s team while former Leicester City manager Pearson is the men’s boss.
Smith said Pearson had championed unity between the two sides.

The ex-Wales asssitant coach said: “He just said ‘you’re a first team, I’m a first team, so don’t come with anything else - we are the first teams of this club, that’s it, no arguments that is it’.

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“From that point it could have just been words, but he put it into action straight away.”

Since the women’s team have enjoyed the same status and used the training facilities formerly utilised by the men’s team.

Smith added: “You genuinely feel valued and welcome when you sit down with him, when you speak to any of his staff as well. I think the two first teams here are aligned in that sense, which makes it lovely to come to work.

“He comes to watch our training sessions, I go to watch theirs. I’ve been with him on a matchday. He comes to watch pretty much all of our games we have here, so it is genuine support and respect for each other which is really, really good to be part of.”

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