I’M NO SHY RETI RING TYPE!
Ex- League of Ireland star insists that there’s life in the old dog yet
DANNY VENTRE jokes that unlike his former Sligo Rovers teammate Raffael Cretaro, he won’t retire - never mind twice.
But the former league and FAI Cup winner has a firm picture of where he wants to go beyond his playing days, even if it takes a while.
After departing the League of Irel and scene si x years ago, Ventre struggled to land another full- time playing contract.
The Liverpudlian eventually pitched up at Telford United, then ro ck bottom of th e National League ( the old ‘ Conference’) on a par t - t i me deal and reality hit home.
With a young family to consider, Ventre brief ly f lirted with becoming an electrician in his brother’s firm and even dabbled in selling insurance.
“I tried to get into it but it just wasn’t enjoyable. It wasn’t me. I realised that I’m not a shirt and tie man, working 9- 5,” he told Mirror Sport.
“There was no fulfilment for me. I crave that fix of needing to win. I need it in my life.”
Ventre, 34, found what he was looking for with Blackpool, where he’s now the club’s under- 18s manager and lead profess i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t phase coach.
Hi s f o r mer S l i g o
R o v e r s t e a m - m a t e
Matthew Blinkhorn i s the League One club’s
Head of Coaching and got him in the door.
Ventre had his UEFA B from the FAI and, on his return to England, used hi s t i me i n non- l eague football to upgrade to UEFA A.
A Pro Licence and managing at senior level within five years is the goal, but he knows that is easier said than done.
But Blackpool has become a bill- paying gig and takes precedence over his own games with Widnes – in England’s eighth- tier.
As it happens, Ventre is currently serving a three- game ban for a red card in a league game against Marine – who played Tottenham in the FA Cup.
“Some things never change,” l aughs the sti l l - snarling midfielder, never one to shirk a tackle.
Ventre is determined to climb the coaching ladder but realises what a precarious business it is.
“The money at academy level isn’t great,” he said. “You need to be in the senior game, but once y ou make t hat j ump how l ong do you realistically get?
“You look at Jack Byrne signing for Mick Mccarthy in Cyprus and Mick is sacked after a few months. It’s madness really.
“You work your way up the ladder, jump into senior football and you’re out of it before you know it.
“There’s so many top managers looking for jobs you’d be lucky to get one.
“We know football can’t last forever. You have to get the next chapter of your life sorted.”