YOU HAVE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR FAMILY – AND I NEEDED SECURITY
GRAHAM Coughlan was no pushover as a player. A six foot centre-back with a forehead like Frankenstein, the Dubliner viewed pain as an occupational hazard. But as the 44-year-old reflects on a tumultuous week that saw him controversially ditch Bristol Rovers for Mansfield Town, even Coughlan admits to feeling a little bruised by the criticism flung his way.
“It’s been tough,” says the former Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United defender. “Really tough. On me. On my family. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has a view. And that’s irrespective of what really went on.”
What went on - at least in the eyes of many associated with Bristol Rovers - is nothing short of rank betrayal.
Appointed manager in November 2018 following the resignation of Darrell Clarke, Coughlan’s 12 months at the helm were overwhelmingly successful.
Relegation was averted. The squad reshaped. Victory over Ipswich last Saturday even saw the Gas ascend to fourth in League One.
Yet no sooner had his jubilant players emerged from the Portman Road showers than Coughlan dropped his bombshell.
He was leaving, and not for better things. For Mansfield, a club just seven points off the bottom of League Two.
Rovers fans were understandably angered by the apparently mercenary behaviour of a man on whom the club had generously gambled a year earlier.
Coughlan, though, says a desire to move closer to his home in Sheffield and Rovers’ failure to counter the Stags’ offer ultimately forced his hand.
“My family was the main driver,” says the Irishman, who hasn’t lived at home since joining Southend in 2010.
“It’s a week before Christmas and the thought of not seeing my kids was killing me. My daughter is seven. I’ve got one 14. One 18.
“I love my kids to bits and every parent up and down the country would surely understand that getting home after ten years away would be paramount in your thinking.
“It was just about living a normal life. Waking up in my own house. Putting my kids to bed. Picking them up from school. Sitting at the same dinner table. Normality.
“Maybe people can’t understand that, but it was something I had to do.
“In any walk of life, you have to guard against being unhappy. If you’re coming home, eating a microwave meal for one and looking at the same four walls that could drive you demented. It wouldn’t have helped anybody if it got to that stage.” Security
Nevertheless, Coughlan insists he might have been talked round if Rovers had pushed the boat out.
“People are talking like I had a decision to make,” adds the former defender, who had 18 months left on his Rovers contract.
“But I only had one offer. Myself