Bartley coach journey
74 Sunday Mail
Marvin Bartley has revealed he is determined to devote all of his spare time to following his “great passion” for coaching.
The Livingston midfielder penned a three-year deal when he moved from Hibs in the summer and has no intention of hanging up his boots prematurely.
But the 33- year- old is single-minded in what he will do when he finally packs in a playing career that has taken him from the youth team at hometown club Reading to Scotland via non- league football and some of England’s lessfashionable clubs.
He said: “I still have plenty of time left as a player but there’s no time like the present in terms of learning the other side of the game.
“I have a great passion for it. I enjoy coaching as much as I enjoy playing and I honestly never thought I would say that.
“It’s something I am very much looking forward to doing when I retire.
“I have two- and- a- half years left on my contract at Livingston so it’s about concentrat ing on the playing first and foremost.
“But when I do have some spare time it’s all going into the coaching.”
Bartley admits getting the opportunity to learn the ropes off the pitch was a key consideration when he joined Livingston after four years at Easter Road.
The former Bournemouth, Burnley and Leyton Orient player has been helping to coach the Lions’ secondstring, who currently sit top of the SPFL Reserve League 2.
He added: “I’m absolutely loving it. The coaching was a major part of me coming to the club.
“Going into management and coaching is what I want to do.
“I coach the reserve team and I’ve been doing that ever since I came in.
“I’m taking my A Licence in the summer, I’m doing a footba l l management course at Edinburgh Napier University at the moment.
“The coaching has been excellent and that is the next step once I retire from the playing side.”