John Wells has spoken for the first time since his switch to the North East as a specialist coach until the end of the current campaign.
Wells, 48, who had a six year stint with the England national team, is reunited with defence coach Mike Ford on Tyneside whom he worked with during his spell at Twickenham.
The pair were hard at work on the training field alongside new director of rugby Gary Gold on Tuesday before Wells took time-out to speak to the Falcons’ official website.
“This is a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the club secure its top-flight status,” said the former Leicester Tigers head coach.
He added: “Newcastle Falcons is a big club which should be challenging for European Cups and Premiership titles. I am used to working in pressurised environments when every game is a cup final and that is the case between now and the end of the season.”
Newcastle are nine points adrift of fellow basement side London Wasps with a large chunk of the season yet to be played.
Donning the tracksuit and sweater, Wells was in positive mood about the Falcons’ survival bid, saying: “There are a lot of games left to play to make up the deficit and we know what we will be up against but all we can do is the best we can with the group of players that we have got.
“To have the mind-set that we are nine points behind and we are going down is not the right attitude to have as we can make up the deficit with a couple of wins.”
Wells has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career in which he guided Leicester to a Premiership final and a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals in just his first season in charge.
Following his tenure at Welford Road, Yorkshire-born Wells was appointed England forwards coach in 2006 where he worked under a string of high profile bosses including Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, Rob Andrew and Martin Johnson.
Part of the England set-up that reached the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in France, Wells was instrumental in assisting Martin Johnson on the way to lifting the 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship.
With a rich coaching pedigree behind him, Wells is hoping to use his experience of working in a pressurised environment to his advantage as the Falcons look to claw themselves up the Aviva Premiership table under the stewardship of Gold.
“First of all, Gary [Gold] has done a really good job since he has come in and he has grabbed hold of the group of players which is a difficult challenge for a guy who has not been part of the club,” said Wells.
He added: “He has brought in the likes of Mike [Ford] and myself and together along with the existing coaching team we are hoping to subtly but surely make that little bit of difference to help us get enough points to stay up in the Aviva Premiership.
“Gary has told me that they are an enthusiastic and energetic bunch of guys. All they need is a bit of coaching and I think one of my strengths is the fact that I do get stuck into players.
“Hopefully I bring them on from being good players who generally know what they are doing to very good players who definitely know what they are doing.”
Wells heads back to his old-stomping ground of Welford Road this Saturday as the Falcons lock horns with the Tigers in the final pool match of the LV= Cup (kick-off 3pm).
And a week later Gold takes his charges to Bath for the welcome return of Aviva Premiership rugby.
“It is really important that we do our best to get as many points and we are at the stage of the season where it is all about winning games,” said Wells who is eying victory in the West Country.
“We have got to make sure that the team gets as many wins as possible over the next few weeks,” he added.
With much debate surrounding the future of top-flight rugby in the north, Wells is in no doubt that the future is bright for teams north of the Midlands.
Making reference to Sale Sharks, Wells said: “They have sorted themselves out over the last 12 months and Steve Diamond has come in there and made some subtle changes.
“They have used money wisely and whilst I have got no doubt that Steve has had an impact, it might take them two or three years to have some stability.
“In other words they cannot just have one good season and be a flash in the pan and that is what Newcastle has to aim for. Newcastle has got to somehow get themselves out of this situation where they are in those bottom three or four positions over time.
“Whatever happens in the next 18 months, the club has got to put themselves in a position whereby the club is competing for Europe in the longer-term.
“As a player and a coach Kingston Park is not a nice place to come and play. There has been talk of fortress Kingston Park in the past and I think that has been lost for whatever reason but get that back and you are half-way there.”
The Falcons’ next home match is against London Irish in the Aviva Premiership with tickets available by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
