Having earned his coaching stripes in Welsh football, new Chester FC coach Chris Herbert says he is loving his new role with the Blues.
The 37-year-old, who hails from Blacon, left his role as boss of Cymru Alliance side Flint Town United at the start of this month having been offered the chance to join Blues boss Steve Burr's coaching staff.
Burr had been looking to bring someone in since Andy Fearn, who worked with him at Kidderminster Harriers, left to become New Mills manager in August. And Herbert is relishing the opportunity to take the next step in his coaching career at National League level.
"I'm loving it so far, it's good to be in this type of football now, Conference, it's where the aim for me was to move up into to, that type of level," said Herbert, who has managed Welshpool, Conwy Borough, Cefn Druids and Flint, and held assistant roles at Rhyl and Connah's Quay.
"There is quite a difference, a lot of the players are from the Football League are in this now, even though in Welsh football there are a lot of ex-Football League players. It's a higher standard and a bit more organised as well."
Herbert explained how his arrival at the Blues came about and shed some light on just what his role alongside Burr and first-team coach Jon McCarthy will entail.
"I've been in touch with Steve (Burr) for a while and been in touch about players etc," said Herbert, a Uefa qualified coach who was once on the books of Chester City as a youngster.
" Things just moved on from there and, like I said, it's something that I have been looking to get into and Steve has given me that opportunity.
"On training days I'm here as a coach if needs be but my main role is going out finding the players. It's hard for Steve and Jon (McCarthy) to do it as they are usually out on the coaching field and doing that side of it. It's up to me to go out and find those players on lesser money, really.
"It's difficult at this standard now the top sides are streets ahead money wise and can afford to go out and do what they want whereas we have got to find them hidden gems and that's my job.
"Since I've been here I've been out watching games and giving them the reports on the teams."
With the January transfer window approaching Herbert said that the Christmas period was vital for those players on the fringes, with the Blues having already made contact with possible targets when the window opens.
Herbert said: "Players know that January is coming up and they have got to perform to keep their place. There is lads on our radar who we've spoken to and it's up to the lads now to go and keep their place and perform and get the results that they need.
"We've got to a place now where we need to push on again. The lads have got us to there and can we go to the next level now? That's the aim and that's what the gaffer and Jon are trying to get across to the lads in training.
"For us, we are looking to get into the top half after Christmas and with the games we've got coming up we feel that there is a chance of doing that so it is up to us to get it done."
