Luton Town assistant manager Paul Hart is set to join Notts County as Technical Director alongside new manager Harry Kewell, according to HITC. Former Leeds winger Kewell left Crawley for Meadow Lane last week following Kevin Nolan’s dismissal. Nolan lost his job after an awful start for the Magpies, picking up just one point in his opening five games. Kewell oversaw his first match as manager last night as a strong County side were beaten at Grimsby in the Checkatrade Trophy. Following his appointment, Notts owner Alan Hardy had spoken of changing his organisation structure and bringing in a Technical Director. Hart still lives in Nottingham and has strong links with the club as both a player and caretaker manager. He’s got extensive management and coaching experience, having been with Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, and Queens Park Rangers to name a few. He’s also well known to new manager Kewell, having worked with him whilst they were at Leeds United. Hart had a role within the academy as Kewell was emerging as a player. The Magpies have a tough trip to Exeter City this weekend, themselves early promotion candidates after successive failed play-off campaigns. The Verdict Notts County are a huge club who dream of returning to the top flight. Right now, just a promotion challenge would be nice, especially after spending big in the summer on the likes of Kane Hemmings, Enzio Boldewijn and Kristian Dennis. Paul Hart has lots of experience within the game, but how the new set up works in real terms remains to be seen. It needs to be effective because Notts look in real danger at the moment.<doc-sep>Matt Tootle joined Notts County from Crewe in June 2016 Notts County defender Matt Tootle says gambling is "rife" in football as he revealed his own problems with betting. The 27-year-old spoke in 2017 about how he had been dealing with mental health issues. Tootle said on Twitter external-link on Wednesday: "I've been a compulsive gambler for as long as I remember and it has brought to me some of my worst memories. "This problem is rife in football and something needs to be done about it and I'm hoping to also help with that now." The Magpies tweeted in support of their defender, saying: "We have been helping Toots through this and are liaising with the EFL to identify if they can offer any further support." Gambling on football is banned by the game's authorities in the UK to avoid conflicts of interest and maintain the sport's integrity. Last year ex-Wales and Arsenal striker John Hartson - a former gambling addict - said six top-flight managers in Scotland and England had recently asked him to help their players tackle gambling addiction, while another former player, Matthew Etherington, claimed some gambling companies targeted players because of their high disposable incomes. Tootle revealed during Mental Health Awareness week external-link in 2017 how he was getting his career back on track and overcoming his mental health problems - and has now opened up about his gambling problems via social media. "Many times I have tried to quit and been unsuccessful and almost lost loved ones closest to me who tried to help," he said. "It's an illness and until you decide you actually want to help yourself you will never get over it. "I'm now one month clean from betting and I'm proud of it. On top of my mental health, I understand I'm a complicated character, but one thing I'm sure of is my strength deep within which makes me never give up in any walk of life. "I think the best thing I have ever done is be open and honest about my mental health. "I feel prouder than ever about how I came through the darkest days and be able to help others, which is why I feel I need to be open and honest for the first time about another problem that has been part of my life since I was 16 years old." Meanwhile, the head of the NHS has said Premier League football clubs should do more to help tackle gambling addiction. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said reports that some foreign betting companies are "failing to play their part" in funding services to treat problem gamblers are "deeply concerning".<doc-sep>Sign up NOW for your daily Notts newsletter direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Lewis Alessandra said Notts County’s players let Kevin Nolan down with their performances and admitted the squad were "gutted” by his departure. The Magpies sacked Nolan after the 3-1 defeat at Lincoln City and replaced him with Harry Kewell who was appointed his successor last Friday. The former Newcastle midfielder was a hugely popular figure during his 18 months in charge in which he steered the club clear of relegation and led them to the play-offs last term. But winger Alessandra, who Nolan signed last year from Hartlepool, said the players just had not produced the performances required to keep him in the job. “Even though I wasn’t playing, I was gutted when the gaffer went,” he said. “Everyone loved him, myself included, because he brought me to the club. “We were all surprised by the news and we were gutted because we let him down with the performances.“ "Playing so poorly collectively is ultimately what led to what happened. “That was even more gutting because everybody liked him so much."<doc-sep>
Paul Hart has returned to Notts County after being appointed the Magpies’ new technical director. The former Nottingham Forest manager will arrive from Luton Town to form part of a new football structure at the club which announced Harry Kewell as their new manager last Friday. Hart had played a key role as assistant to Hatters manager Nathan Jones as Luton won promotion from League Two last season in what was seen as a mentoring role. His arrival at Notts will see him be reunited with new boss Kewell, with the pair having worked together at Leeds United where Hart oversaw the Australian’s development as a player in the academy. It also means the 65-year-old returns to Meadow Lane just three years after leaving the club, during which time he had held the position of acting academy manager. Hart is hugely respected and well known to the city, having played for and managed Forest. He also had a spell at Notts County as a player - and as caretaker manager. “Paul is a superb addition for us,” said Notts chairman Alan Hardy. “Not only is he one of the most respected men in the game, he also knows Harry very well. “His remit will be a broad one to match his tremendous knowledge, experience and breadth of contacts. “He will be on hand to mentor and support Harry, while also being responsible for setting the club’s overall footballing philosophy with a keen emphasis on our development and academy set-ups. “I have every confidence that he and Harry will oversee an upturn in our immediate fortunes and build a footballing infrastructure which will help us achieve our long-term ambitions.”