Steven Reid says he was offered a different role at Nottingham Forest before making the decision to leave the City Ground.
Reid announced last week he had left his position on Steve Cooper’s coaching staff to take up a new challenge. He plans to offer his services as a specialist coach “helping people improve their mental well-being, confidence, and leadership”.
The former Republic of Ireland international had been a key part of the set-up under Cooper, helping the Reds secure promotion to the Premier League. As caretaker boss he had overseen the club’s first win of last season, against Huddersfield Town, following the sacking of Chris Hughton - and he remained influential when the Welshman took charge.
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Reid says it was tough to leave Forest, and he could have stayed on in a different capacity. But he is passionate about supporting players, having spoken of his “mental health and confidence issues” throughout his playing and coaching career.
In an interview with The Times, he said: “I almost took another role at the club a couple of weeks ago, loans manager, which would have been more flexible, but just wasn’t what I wanted. I want to throw myself into this counselling completely.
“As a coach, my conversations with players more often than not were around wellbeing: ‘How are you doing? How’s the family?’. It was on the mental side rather than a tactical and technical side, chatting with them, and sharing about my vulnerabilities. I’ve always got a soft spot for the lads going through it injury-wise.
“I’ve done the level two counselling qualification, level three will start in October. I’m on an LMA (League Managers’ Association) Premier League leadership programme which has been a big help in finding my path. It will be individual coaching in wellbeing, confidence and leadership.
“Most clubs now have psychologists or wellbeing departments but there will still be a select group of players that would rather do it away from the club. I just thought when I played I was the only one that had a panic attack or felt that anxiety. But it’s so common.”
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