Blair, who has been associated with the Riversiders for over a decade, is now taking his first tentative steps in football management and is relishing the challenges ahead.
The Tullyally man is joined by Robert Lynch and the management duo will be making all the decisions from signing players to picking the team.
"Our aim is to open the door for young guys from the Waterside and the Derryside to try and break into the second senior team in the town," said Blair.
"John Gregg has told myself and Robert that the reserve team is all about producing players for the first team and that is exactly what we are hoping to do.
"Although it's early days, I know there is quite a few players in our squad, who have the potential of breaking into the first team this season.
"They just have to believe in themselves and gain experience playing and training with senior players."
Both managers have been coaching with the club's academy before stepping up into management.
"Myself and Robert have been coaching with the Institute Under 12 side, before we were approached to do the Reserve team as joint managers," said Blair.
"After having a chat we bothfelt it was a good opportunity for us. We know that the hard work starts now, but we are both ready for it."
The 29-year-old has started doing his coaching badges and sometime in the future may look at possible managing with the big boys.
"I have started working on my coaching badges, while Robert is currently in the middle of doing his A Licence, so at the minute he's the more qualified," he said.
"But we are equals when it comes to managing the team, picking the team and signing players.
"We only started pre-season training last week and although we haven't got the full squad out, we still have quite a few players who'll be taking part in both the Foyle and Milk Cup's, who are now training twice a week," concluded the former 'Stute defender.