Tony Warner claims the opportunity to work in a higher division was too good to turn down after the goalkeeping coach swapped Bristol Rovers for Reading, just a year after being brought to the Gas by Joey Barton.
Warner was confirmed as part of Paul Ince's backroom staff this week, reuniting the 48-year-old with his former Liverpool teammate at Championship Reading having played an influential role in Rovers' promotion into League One. James Belshaw enjoyed the finest season of his career, under Warner's guidance, claiming the Player of the Year award after a series of integral performances across the 2022/23 campaign.
With Rovers returning for pre-season training on Monday, the timing is not ideal but Warner admits his relationship with Ince, the pull of the Championship and the "better environment" at the Royals, without going into detail on that aspect, made it a straightforward decision for him.
"It was an interesting one. We had such a successful season at Bristol Rovers and the way we finished the season was amazing, with all the emotion involved in that," he told Berkshire Live. "But having worked with the manager before, having the opportunity to work in a higher division.
"The training ground at Bristol Rovers was very, very good, but the environment is better here obviously and you take all these things into account really. For me, it was another step on the journey really, so I decided to come. I had to have a think about it, but once I had made the decision, that was it, the decision was made."
There is no tension between him and Barton, though, with Warner branding his former manager a "top fella" when asked to compare him with Ince.
"They were both fiery midfielders," he added. "But they are both great fellas, they are both great fellas to work for, they are very passionate. They won't suffer fools, that is great and that's the way it should be."
The identity of Warner's successor should be revealed next week when Rovers reconvene at The Quarters for pre-season.
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