Manager rapport helped sell Bell on Kelty
THE summer months provoked a lot of thought when it came to deciding whether remaining in football as a player was for Steven Bell.
Having left Partick Thistle after spending just over a year at Firhill, during which time he helped them win the League One title, the 37-year-old found himself weighing up his future.
The Kelty Hearts player, who admitted candidly that his day job, in Glasgow City Council’s social work department, is his priority, turned down a number of offers as pre-season for clubs across the country got under way.
However, a call from his old Dunfermline team-mate, John Potter, proved decisive in Bell making the choice to continue his playing days at New Central Park – as did the “older chat” on offer with the more experienced players in the dressing room.
Bell, who has also turned out for Stirling Albion, Stranraer and Ayr United during his career, made his debut against the Pars in last month’s scoreless draw between the sides, and was in the side that was beaten at Montrose at the weekend.
Following the Dunfermline game, he chatted to Press Sport about how the move came about – and explained: “I was really contemplating stopping playing in the summer.
“I’d had a lot of time off to think about it. I went on a few family holidays, spent time with my kids and my wife. Obviously, I work full-time outwith football, so it’s a tough working week, but I just love the game that much.
“You’re a long time out the game. A lot of people say that, and I still feel I’ve got something to offer.
“I’ve got a good rapport with the manager, and I’ve got relationships already in that dressing room with boys I’ve played with, and played against, throughout my career.
“I had offers to go elsewhere. I had several offers; probably more so at the start of the season. I say the start of the season – the start of pre-season. Nothing took my fancy. I think the gaffer’s come in at the right time.
“The gaffer here is clearly a good manmanager because there will be times where I’m working, and I might not be able to making training. A lot of managers were looking at that; ‘Oh, can we do this, can we maybe do that’. They don’t really see it from a player’s point of view.
“This isn’t my be-all and end-all. My job is. I do this to do the best I can do for any club I’m at, but he (Potter) has obviously recognised that and, because of my age and stage, he’s okay with me not taking days off, but doing my training at home myself.
“He trusts me, and that’s a big thing for me.”
Bell continued: “As I said, I’ve got a rapport with him from when I was at the club, Dunfermline, years back, a long time ago, and I’ve always kept in touch with him. That was the pull and, as I said, guys like Joe Cardle, who are my mates outwith the game.
“I think for players my age – Dave McGurn as well, one of the coaches – I always like that kind of ‘older chat’, if that makes sense. Not that I don’t talk to the young boys, but I just love the older chat.
“I’ve changed from maybe when I was 17, 18; I hear all the younger boys have the chat, and I’m like, I’m not getting involved in that!
“That was a good pull for me as well. They’ve got a lot of older heads here, a good car school and stuff like that, and I think the club’s going in the right places.”