Last updated at 15:09, Friday, 04 May 2012

ASHLEY Hoskin has begun planning for life as Barrow AFC’s long-term number two.

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The 43-year-old coach has yet to be officially appointed to the job he has occupied for the last month, but that has not curbed his enthusiasm for his potential new role.

The Accrington-based former winger – who played 60 times for Barrow between 1995 and 1996 – joined forces with AFC manager Dave Bayliss on the touchline for the last four games of the Blue Square Bet Premier season.

The former Burnley development and reserve team coach also took squad training sessions and led the Barrow players through their pre-match warm-ups.

Prior to that Bayliss – with the help of players Gavin Skelton and Robin Hulbert – had been fulfilling both the manager and coaching roles, following the departure of joint-boss Darren Sheridan in February.

Hoskin said: “Dave has told me he wants me involved as a coach next year and that’s fantastic.

“We have spoken about pre-season and what kind of things I will do, so it’s all good.

“I’m looking forward to it, the club and people at Barrow are fantastic.”

He added: “I am a coach, that is what I do.

“I have worked ever so hard in the last 14/15 years to get to be a UEFA A standard coach, so I’m fully badged up.

“I’ve absolutely loved the last month at Barrow and the things me and Dave have been putting across to the players. I think that showed in the second half of our last game of the season against Newport County (when Barrow won 3-1).”

Hoskin – a Burnley player between 1985 and 1989 – spent 13 years on the coaching staff at Turf Moor before leaving the Clarets 12 months ago.

“When (current Burnley manager) Eddie Howe came in he brought his own staff, which I accepted,” said Hoskin.

“I used to speak to Darren Sheridan a lot and have known Shez for many years.

“He would ring me about different players and I recommended both Joe Jackson and Alex-Ray Harvey (two players who had loan spells at Barrow this season) to him.

“Last month I spoke to Dave (Bayliss) about a player and he happened to ask me what I was doing these days.

“I told him I was working part-time at Bury with the youth and reserve teams.

“He asked me to put a training session on for the players and the feedback from that was great.

“It’s gone on from there, and I have loved every minute.

“Key for me is that players go out there and enjoy themselves, as well as coming into training with smiles on their faces.

“I’m led to believe that wasn’t happening as much, so I went in there with different ideas.

“Everything I have done, whether it’s a warm-up or a drill, has been high tempo and varied, and the lads have seemed to enjoy it.

“I also feel like I have the respect of the players and that showed in the second half against Newport when Dave sat behind me in the stand and I encouraged the lads from the touchline.

“Our season might be over but me and Dave are still attending games, be it play-offs or reserve and youth matches, and planning ahead.

“Hopefully we have organised a new training base, the facilities at which are top-drawer.

“I’m also looking at bringing in some different training methods, like aerobic sessions and pilates.

“Dr Tom Little, who was the fitness coach at Burnley and high up the sports science ladder, has sent me methods for pre-season too.

“It’s all very professional and I cannot wait to get started.”

l Barrow have confirmed that the squad will again head to the Lake District this summer to take part in a training camp at Coniston, in late July.

l Grimsby Town joint-manager Paul Hurst says his club are not planning a summer move for Barrow striker Adam Boyes.

Hurst is quoted in the Grimsby Telegraph saying: “We haven’t shown any interest in Adam and are not planning to.”

First published at 13:35, Friday, 04 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk