Paul Simpson has opened up on his cancer diagnosis during his time at Bristol City and the support he received from the club during his recovery.
The 56-year-old was a key member of Nigel Pearson's backroom staff in June 2021 when he was told the news that he had a tumour in his kidney. In July, City confirmed Simpson was to step back from his role as coach to undergo treatment for renal cell carcinoma.
Three weeks following his diagnosis, Simpson underwent a seven-hour operation before returning to City when his job title changed from assistant manager to first-team coach after Pearson appointed his former Middlesbrough team-mate Curtis Fleming.
Having also served as assistant to Dean Holden, Simpson would leave City in October by mutual agreement. He paid credit to the club for their support while he went through his recovery process. Speaking to BBC, the now-Carlisle manager said: "I'd had a dry, throaty cough for about 12 months. It wasn't painful but I was coughing every four or five words.
"I'd had lots of tests and tried asthma inhalers and tablets. Nobody could give me an idea of what was causing it. I felt really well, I was keeping myself fit and living a good lifestyle.
"It showed up on the scan I had a tumour. It hits you like a sledgehammer as soon as somebody mentions cancer. My wife was really upset and very concerned."
While Simpson was recovering from his operation at Christie Hospital, Manchester, it gave him the opportunity to put life into perspective before returning to work at City in August. He added: "It's a fantastic club. All the staff kept in touch when I was off and I got messages from different players every day. It was as though they had a little rota going.
"They took away my left kidney. The tumour was in the middle of it. There are millions of people in the world surviving with one kidney who have no issues whatsoever.
"I was really lucky that my cancer was diagnosed and that it was dealt with quickly."
After leaving City, Simpson had four months out of work before returning to his boyhood club Carlisle in February to replace sacked boss Keith Millen until the end of the season. He won seven out of his 13 games, helping avoid relegation, and was offered the role on a full-time basis.
Carlisle have continued that momentum into this season and currently sit sixth in League Two.
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