Andrew Tutte says he is enjoying his new player-coaching role at Bolton Wanderers in the B team set-up and is looking forward to helping to push young players along to contend for a place in Ian Evatt's side.
The 31-year-old was not offered a fresh playing deal with the first team at Wanderers following the end of last season, having made just one appearance in the entire campaign due to various injuries. That came in the Papa John's Trophy against Port Vale.
The previous season, Tutte played 20 times and earned a new one-year contract with the club last summer. The former Manchester City trainee was not offered a fresh deal this summer by Ian Evatt's side for the first team and could have become a free agent able to move to other clubs.
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But he has stayed on at Wanderers and become a player-coach in the club's new B team, which is managed by Matt Craddock. He started the side's first ever game last night in the narrow 1-0 pre-season loss to Atherton Collieries.
But the player - who suffered hamstring and calf problems which kept him out of action for the bulk of last season - is enjoying his new role. He feels it was a natural progression and an opportunity he could not turn down.
He said: It’s different getting used to coaching but I am enjoying it. (I’ve been doing it) for the last three weeks now and am enjoying every single minute of it.
"I was out for seven months last year and then obviously I sat down with the gaffer and the first-team staff. They gave me the opportunity and it was one of those that I couldn’t turn down. It is a good opportunity for me to still play and keep fit while even though I am coaching, and learn from Matt and the gaffer. I am looking forward to doing that.
"I had the operation on my hamstring and then I had a bit of trouble with my calf. I trained the last week of the season with the lads. As soon as the gaffer gave me the opportunity, it was a no-brainer to be honest. It is a challenge I am looking forward to.
"Out there today, I felt like I was losing my voice a little bit! But I enjoy it. I have done that all my career – talk on the pitch - even at first-team level. That is something I have done all the time. It is teaching the kids in situations, talking to them all the time. They are only going to benefit from it.
“The hamstring one, it happened in a 23s game and as soon as I did it, I knew it was a bad one, so I knew I was going to be out for a bit. It was the calf one to be honest, I came back a couple of times and it kept breaking down so that was the frustrating one.
“As soon as he gave me the opportunity, it was a no brainer and sometimes you’re lucky to get opportunities like this and going into coaching, when you do start your coaching badges, sometimes you’re working with kids and I’ve stepped up to basically under 23s level, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Tutte is part of a growing trend of senior players joining clubs to add some experience to under-21s sides and their equivalents. Former Wanderers skipper Jay Spearing has recently rejoined Liverpool in a player-coaching role in their youth set-up, while Paul McShane rejoined Manchester United last year in a similar role.
Tutte was contacted by former Rochdale team mate Gary Dicker over the summer when it became known the midfielder could be in line for this player-coaching role. Dicker is now at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and coaching their under-18s as he helped to inform Tutte's decision.
The midfielder is looking forward to passing on his knowledge of the game and what Wanderers boss Evatt demands and wants from players as they aim to make the step-up to the first team. And though he is now coaching, Tutte is aiming to prolong his playing days for as long as possible.
He said: "Even though I am 31 and still young, at the minute I am enjoying working with the kids and keeping the standards so they are on it all the time, no mistakes. Even though I didn’t train much last year, I have been at the club for two years now and I know what the gaffer’s standards are. I can drive the kids on so that when they get ready for the first team, they know the standards.
"When they are getting moved up to the first team, they know the standards to expect, so it’s just getting stuff into their heads about standards, the passing drills.
“I’m going to be on them for everything to be perfect and not be on their backs, but give them a little bit of a kick.
“I think it’s been going for a couple of years now at Brighton, I spoke to a lad I played with, Gary Dicker, and as soon as he found out about the role he contacted me and he said it’s a great role.
“He’s gone down to the 18s and is teaching the 18s now, so I just think it’s good for the kids because if you have 11 kids out there on the pitch without experience, someone like me talking, they’re going to benefit from it.
“I’ll try and play as much as I can, if it’s another five years. I love playing football and coaching the lads, so as long as I can play, I’ll keep going.”
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