Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty has been dipping his toes into the world of coaching - with Scottish amateur league side East Kilbride YM.
The former Rangers forward is currently between clubs after being released by Steven Gerrard last month.
And while his playing career may be in limbo, Lafferty has been planning for the future by taking YM’s Caledonian League side for training twice a week.
He was on the sidelines last Saturday to help guide the team to a 6-3 victory over Milngavie Wanderers.
Lafferty, who is currently going through his B-licence coaching badges, has spent the last eight months with YM, reports the Daily Record.
The 31-year-old, who has lived in East Kilbride for three years, said: “I’m really enjoying it, I’m sticking in and it’s the path I want to go down in the future.
“It’s a good learning curve for me. I want to go into coaching at some point, but I don’t know when that will be.
“I’m not too sure about being a manager at this moment. Maybe an assistant or a coach, but who knows because things can change in football.
“A few years down the line I might have adapted to the coaching side of things and would like to be a manager.
“Whatever I do I want to continue to be in the football world, but I’m still a player at the minute.
“I’m helping out a bit more than normal until I find a new club, so I’m able to help the boys during games.”
Lafferty admits he learnt from his time playing under Gerrard at Rangers, both as a player and future coach.
He added: “Steven Gerrard is a young manager and I'd like to go down that route as well.
“I’ve picked up one or two things from him in the time I worked with him, but it’s mostly [Rangers coach] Michael Beale who has been dealing more with the coaching side of things.
“I have picked up things from all the managers I’ve worked with though and it’s all positive.
“I’m doing my B-licence at the minute and the YM manager asked me to come along to look over their games.
“I took a few training sessions and got more and more into it.
“Some of the stuff I’m teaching them I’ve picked up as a player with the managers I’ve played under.
“I’ve been a professional footballer for long enough, so it’s good to put things out there and let other lads learn from it.
“I’ll do ball work and look at tactics. I’m trying to get into their heads what positions they should be in and stuff like that. I’m really enjoying it and they are a great group of lads.”
Lafferty added:
“The club is heading in the right direction.
“There’s a lot of good players here, they are well-organised and disciplined as well, so that makes things a lot easier when there are lads the same age as me or maybe a bit younger because they will listen and take on board what I’m saying to them.”
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