McAteer handed Deva coaching role

Feb 11 2008 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

BLUES boss Bobby Williamson has bolstered his coaching team by drafting in former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star Jason McAteer.

The 36-year-old has been brought to the Deva Stadium to work as a coach under the guidance of Williamson and assistant manager Jimmy Bone.

McAteer, who won 55 Ireland caps and played at two World Cups, joined the club last Friday and was on the bench for City’s 3-2 loss to Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Williamson hopes the former Anfield hero’s arrival will help kickstart a revival in Chester’s fortunes.

The Chester manager said: “Jason’s just a different voice who can freshen things up on the coaching side of things. “He’s sitting his coaching exams and we felt we could help him with that. Me and Jimmy Bone have been assessors in Scotland. We know how to coach coaches so we’d like to help Jason in that department.

“He’s helping us just with being a new voice, a new face about the place.”

McAteer has kept himself busy with media work and training towards his coaching badges since retiring as a player with Tranmere Rovers last summer. He started his professional career with Bolton Wanderers in 1992 and went on to play for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland before signing for Tranmere - his hometown club - in 2004.