Ex-Skipper Looking For A Way Back In

Peter Shirtliff is looking for a way back into coaching – but accepts that jobs will be harder than ever to come by as the effects of lockdown continue to be felt.

The 59-year-old Yorkshireman has been out of work since leaving Swindon last summer for the second time and is ready and hungry for the next challenge.

“I was working down there with Richie Wellens, who has since gone in at Salford,” the former Wolves captain said. “But it’s noticeable that clubs do not have the money now to allow a whole coaching team to move in.

“Nigel Pearson, who I know well from playing together at Sheffield Wednesday for many years, has just been appointed by Bristol City, for example, and is working with Keith Downing, Paul Simpson and others who were there with Dean Holden.

“This virus and loss of money has hit the game at the lower end of the scale very hard and I think the days when clubs might provide a flat for you to live in while being away from home are gone for the time being at least.

“Clubs are making fewer changes to their backroom staff when a new manager is appointed and I can understand that.”

Shirtliff spent half of last season at Swindon, having previously been asked by Wellens to go with him to Oldham. On that occasion, though, he declined as he had a scouting position at Charlton.

He was also at the County Ground with Danny Wilson when the club beat Charlton to reach the League One play-off final more than a decade ago and has held a variety of other posts, including at Barnsley, Leicester, Mansfield, Tranmere and Bury.

“I enjoyed working with Richie – he’s excellent,” Shirtliff added. “And I nearly got the chance to go to Burton a while back until there was a change of manager.

“But other places are just too far away to commute and there can be a lot of messing around away from the family home if you are not careful about which jobs you take. I do want to get back in, though, and believe you improve in some ways with age – you are calmer and communicate better.”

The Shirtliffs’ family home for more than 30 years has been at Lytham St Anne’s as his wife is from Blackpool and he rented a flat in Finchfield during his 1993-95 spell as a Wolves player under Graham Turner and then Graham Taylor.

Both he and his wife were confirmed covid cases in April after returning from holiday in Spain.