Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Barton eyes season of transition for Whelan
WHEN Joey Barton brought Glenn Whelan back into the fold at Bristol Rovers this summer, it was in a coaching capacity. The 38-year-old’s playing availability was a bonus to be leaned on in “emergency situations”.
However, circumstances have dictated that the former Stoke City and Aston Villa midfielder has been required in all three games so far this season. Injuries, a patient recruitment strategy and a suspension have all combined to leave boss Barton short of options.
But with Paul Coutts, Jordan Rossiter, Sam Finley and Josh Grant all available again, plus the dominoes starting to fall in the transfer market, Whelan’s transition from player to coach is set to gather pace.
Whelan has forged an excellent career for himself spanning two decades, now closing in on 700 professional appearances to go with the 91 caps he won for the Republic of Ireland. Barton offered high praise when Whelan – who played 31 times in Rovers’ promotion campaign last season – was appointed as a firstteam coach a fortnight ago, believing that he is capable of managing his country one day.
Achievements like that are a long way down the road and Whelan is at the start of his coaching journey. He has transitioned from the dressing room to the coaches’ office, but still trains fully with the squad. Barton believes that is offering him a new perspective on events at The Quarters that could prove to be valuable over the season ahead.
“He’s right in that sweet spot of he knows what we’re looking for from the time he’s spent with us and also he’s trying to learn and observe and take things in,” Barton explained.
“He’s in the coaching room, he doesn’t get changed in the players’ room, but then he joins in training, so he sits really nicely. Paul Coutts and Sam Finley are really good in that regard, they sit in that grey area between players and coaching staff and it’s important that you have a conduit into the dressing room.
“I think Whelo, in the short time he has been in the role, has adapted really well and he’s still a confidant of the players while being in the coaching room, which can be tricky.
“But he’s still loving it and he can see things from the middle of the session now, so we have a different level of information because Whelo is in the middle of the session and he’ll sit and take part in a coaching session and give you a completely different perspective and one that will benefit the group as we move forward.”
Whelan’s hunger to keep playing remains. Barton hinted to him about retirement over the summer, posing the question of whether there is a better way to call time than after winning 7-0 on the final day of the season to clinch promotion.
The Irishman felt he had more games in him and he is nearing a significant milestone, but if his focus is split between playing and coaching duties through necessity at this moment, Barton hopes the latter will become the dominant part of his brief as the season goes on.
“We hope to transition him away from that by the end of the season,” he explained. “But I think he’s close to reaching 700 games and the way he maintains his body and looks after himself, he’s a model professional in that way. But when we get reinforcements and get everybody in situ, we’re hoping he spends more time in the coaching room than he does on the grass with the boys.”
Rovers welcome Oxford United to the Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League One this afternoon.