Larne have announced that midfielder Andy Mitchell will take up a new dual role next season. The 30-year-old is set to combine playing with a coaching post at Inver Park.
Mitchell has been appointed as a new full-time member of the Inver Park club's scholarship programme. And on Thursday night it was announced that the midfielder will spend next season on loan with Carrick Rangers.
Larne said on their website: "We are very pleased to announce Andy Mitchell has been appointed as a full-time member of the club’s Scholarship programme within the Academy programme at Inver Park. The role will see him work under Head Scholarship Coach Keith O’Hara, who arrived at the club last summer.
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"As a result of the new full-time role for Andy, he will spend next season on loan as a player at neighbours Carrick Rangers."
Mitchell will begin his new role with Larne's academy next week with two year groups of scholars enrolled for the year ahead. And he said he can't wait to get started.
The former Rangers and Linfield man said: “I’m really looking forward to taking this next step in my coaching career with the club. At 30 I still want to play and feel I have a lot to contribute in that sense, so that’s why I’m going on loan next season.
“There is a thriving full-time Academy at the club and on a personal level, this is a really good opportunity for myself and I can’t wait to get started on the next step on my coaching pathway. Having worked under the Gaffer (Tiernan Lynch) for the last two years I know what he’s all about and what’s required at the club.
“I’ve been fortunate to be at some big clubs in my career and it sounds silly, but you don’t necessarily get coached at big clubs because they tend to have the best players, it’s more about man management. At Larne it’s a different kettle of fish and there is a lot of emphasis on how we want to play, right throughout the club.
“I’ve done my B and A Licences over the last fortnight and that has been really intense fortnight, but it also gives me a greater appreciation of the work coaches put in, and have done throughout my career. I’ve had a lot of highs and lows in my career and hopefully I’m well placed to get alongside young players and help them on their own journey and prepare them for what’s ahead.”
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