DEVITT’S BACK TO WORK WITH REDS PAL DAN
JAMIE Devitt says he had no hesitation stepping into Non-League to climb the coaching ladder as player/assistant manager of Workington.
The 33-year-old former Hull City and Morecambe midfielder was left without a club after being released by Carlisle United following their League Two play-off success last season.
But after a conversation with former Cumbrians teammate and current Reds boss Danny Grainger, he has now found a place to call home, with added responsibilities of his coaching role.
“I knew what to expect from speaking to Danny,” Devitt told The NLP. “I know Luke Joyce and Nicky Adams as well who went to Radcliffe, and they have been part-time.
“I did not want to sign anywhere until I was able to play games and contribute, so I was just getting fit up until then.
“Danny’s one of my closest friends. We roomed together for three years at Carlisle, so we speak quite regularly. He asked whether I would be interested in going up, and it was something I wanted to do to make the transition from full-time to part-time.”
Devitt became a crucial part of the Cumbrians’ side promoted into League One last season, despite missing large parts of the season through injury.
A move into Non-League represents a bit of a culture shock for the Irishman, but that’s nothing new for the playmaker, who admits he found his free time as a professional at Carlisle challenging.
“At the time, I was finding it really tough to be fair, I did not know what to do with my days,” Devitt revealed.
“I was struggling really. So it was tough at the start, but I started scouting for Carlisle to stay busy and going to watch a lot of youth games.
“So I have been keeping myself a lot more busy now, and I know how to fill parts of my day instead of sitting around and doing nothing.
“It is just about keeping busy and not having too much time on my hands.”
The player/assistant role at Workington offers Devitt a new opportunity for the future – and he can’t wait to use the benefit of his experience to help develop the younger players at Borough Park.
“I love to talk and be able to help players if they need advice,” he added. “I know I can help on that side of it, along with the coaching.
“I am booked into doing my coaching badges in May hopefully, and build on it.
“Having someone like Danny is amazing to learn off because he is an amazing coach, and the lads love the sessions he puts on, they say the clubs they have been released from the sessions have not been as good.”
Indeed, Grainger is one of the brightest young managers in Non-League and reckons the Reds have landed a coup in the signing of Devitt after Reds fans raised £21,790 through a ‘budget booster’ initiative.
Praising the fans, Grainger told the News & Star: “It’s a huge thankyou to them for the backing they’ve given us. That’s us all pulling in the same direction. Every club needs that to be successful.
“I know what he’s going to bring on the pitch, and also off it he’s just as important.
“To get someone like Dev, it’s a massive coup for us and a massive positive for everyone at the club.”