It’s a baptism of fire for new Newcastle Eagles Women’s Senior team Head Coach Chloe Gaynor today as she takes her side on the road to face Manchester in the Super League Basketball Championship.

Gaynor has only been in the job since Thursday afternoon and has hardly had chance to process the chain of events that has seen her replace the outgoing Matt Newby who stood down for personal reasons.

Gaynor will combine her coaching duties by doubling up as a player although may not recover from injury in time to be able to make a difference on the court. However, she will now and until the end of the season be the main play caller off the court.

“It’ll take some getting used to and I’m still a player as well so Head Coach and player. I’m excited. It’s a great opportunity and I’m thankful to be given it. I think we have a great team of women here that I’m really looking forward to working with in a different capacity in a coaching role.”

“I’ve literally come into the role in the last couple of days and it’s been a whirlwind for everyone. The team were great in practice last night and rolled with the punches because to try and turn a game around and process everything in 48 hours is tough.”

“Matt’s done a good job until now and we’re very thankful for what he’s done for the programme. He’s helped us get to a great place with the run we had last year and the foundations he’s set. It’s sad to see him go and we wish him all the best.”

What is even more daunting for Gaynor and her charges is that she and her side have not had a competitive game of basketball since they lost in the SLB at home to Leicester Riders 78 – 82 five weeks ago.

“It’s going to be tough. I’m likely to be out as a player this weekend so hopefully if I am I can provide some support from the sidelines and try to impact the game from there. We’re also without Alex Campbell and Sarah Birkett has not been around for a while.”

“It’s only been a handful of the Newcastle University girls that have been able to get some game reps in but this is the SLB and a much higher level. In those five weeks we’ve been through illness which caused a game to be cancelled and we’ve lost the Coach.”

“We’ve barely been able to run up and going with ten players even when we’ve practised so it’s been an experience. But it’s one this programme has been in before so we’ve had people around that understand how to get through that.”

“We’ve had great support from the Men’s Head Coach Marc Steutel and my Assistant Luke Orwin has done a great job stepping into the interim breach and the rest of the support staff have maintained a steady ship.”

“I think we’ve made the best of things as we could with the time that we had and now it’s all about being focused for the game at Manchester. The game is all about us and taking that first step on the rest of this season’s journey.”

Manchester have actually managed to play 4 SLB games and were unbeaten until last weekend when they lost to League leaders Sheffield. But a 3 – 1 record shows how tough The Eagles and Gaynor’s task is.

“They’ve really stepped it this season and have a very deep roster. They’re very versatile with players that we know from the league, players that have returned to the league and few quality new players to the league.”

“They also have Kumesh Patel a seasoned Coach at this level who really knows his stuff. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t going to be a tough game especially after five weeks off.

“But I think regardless it’ll give us a good idea of where we’re at and what we need to do and I don’t doubt for a second that the team are going to go out and give it there all.”

The game at the National Basketball Centre in Manchester tips-off at 2:00pm and which ever way the ball bounces it’s a historic new chapter in the Newcastle Eagles history.

The game is free to watch live on YouTube.