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Colin Coates embracing life on the sidelines as Glenavon revival continues

A picture of Colin Coates in action for Glenavon
-Credit:Inpho


Colin Coates said Glenavon's impressive form of late has taken mind off his retirement from playing. The big defender called time on his playing career earlier this season when he took up the offer to become become Paddy McLaughlin's assistant manager at the Lurgan Blues.

Their arrival alongside first team coach Marty McCann has seen an upturn in results at Mourneview Park with four wins in their last five games including victory over Dungannon Swifts on Friday night.

Coates insisted he is enjoying playing a key role from the sidelines but admitted there was part of him that wished he was on the pitch in the closing stage at Stangmore Park as the visitors stood firm to claim another valuable three points.

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"Yeah I think it's only natural to miss playing but to be honest I haven't really had time to think about it," said Coates. "You've so much to do now and your whole perspective changes. You want to do well in this role and you want the team to do well so you kind of don't have time to think about it.

"I haven't overly missed it. Sometimes I'd like to be out there in the thick of it. The last five minutes on Friday night when Dungannon were pumping balls in and you're defending for your life.

"I think if I had retired and not had anything else to walk into then I would have missed it more. I've got this, it's something else to focus on, and as I say I'm really enjoying it and long may it continue.

"It's been brilliant you know. I've said since the day I came in I'm very fortunate, you know, in terms of working with Paddy and Marty, two people who know what they're doing first and foremost are good people who I enjoy spending time with and enjoy being in their company on training nights.

"It certainly doesn't feel like a job, it's something that I'm really enjoying and I'm emotionally invested in all that comes along with it. It's a real rollercoaster of emotions on the sideline, but no I'm really enjoying it.

"I suppose it's easy to enjoy it when you're when you're picking up results, the real acid test will be when you're not getting results. But no, it's been great and like I say, I'm really really fortunate to be at such a good club with good people and long may we keep picking up results."

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