Ex-Premier League and EFL player Nicky Hunt takes up an assistant role at 7th tier outfit Warrington Rylands who are eyeing promotion.
He will now assist new boss Michael Clegg, who comes in to replace the recently departed Jody Banim after the 44-year-old resigned due to “business commitments outside of football”.
Hunt also worked with Clegg at Ashton United for roughly three years in charge before calling time.
The club would like to give a warm welcome new first team manager Michael Clegg and coach Nicky Hunt. Watch this space for an interview later today with the new Gaffer! #wearerylands pic.twitter.com/dxk74sFhTt
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) February 14, 2023
An official statement read: “The club would like to give a warm welcome new first team manager Michael Clegg and coach Nicky Hunt.”
Warrington will take on Whitby Town on Saturday afternoon in what will be the pair’s first game in charge.
Rylands currently find themselves 11th in the Northern Premier League Premier Division with 42 point, just seven from the playoff places after 31 games played.
They suffered a 1-0 loss at home to league leaders South Shields in their last game.
NICKY HUNT’S CAREER:
Youth career
–2001 Bolton Wanderers
Senior career
2001–2010 – Bolton Wanderers – 161 games (1 goal)
2008 → Birmingham City (loan) – 11 games (0 goals)
2010 → Derby County (loan) – 23 games (0 goals)
2010–2012 – Bristol City – 8 games (0 goals)
2012 – Preston North End – 17 games (1 goal)
2012–2013 – Rotherham United – 9 games (0 goals)
2013 → Accrington Stanley (loan) – 11 games (0 goals)
2013–2015 – Accrington Stanley – 69 games (0 goals)
2015–2016 – Mansfield Town – 21 games (0 goals)
2016–2017 – Leyton Orient – 54 games (1 goal)
2017–2018 – Notts County – 19 games (0 goals)
2018–2020 – Crewe Alexandra – 54 games (1 goal)
2020–2021 – Darlington – 16 games (0 goals)
2021–2023 – Ashton United – 2 games (0 goals)
Total – 407 games (4 goals)
International career
2004–2005 – England U21 – 9 games (0 goals)
1⃣8⃣ years since Cristiano Ronaldo made his first debut for Manchester United against Bolton, former defender Nicky Hunt explained what he was told to do by his manager Sam Allardyce to try and contain the forward… 😂 pic.twitter.com/SHaw08gEYH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 9, 2021
Michael Clegg said in an interview with Warrington Guardian about taking the job: “You look at the squad list and it’s just got so much quality in it. It wasn’t until I got hold of it fully that I realised just how many good players are here.
“Dave (McNabb, former Rylands boss) built an unbelievable squad for the level which put pressure on everyone, but he had two horrific injuries to Josh Langley and Aaron Morris which really hurt them early doors.
“You then look at players like Callum Dolan and Kane Drummond – the club managed to sell them for profit, one to a Football League club and the other to an aspiring Football League club.
“The elephant in the room is the budget – everybody has spoken about it but that kind of thing doesn’t really matter to me as it’s spent.
“It’s not like I’m coming in with a war chest available – I’m coming in to squeeze the best out of what we’ve got.
“Having said that, it’s pretty obvious that we need a forward and we’re working hard to get one but other than that, we’re relatively sound.
🔵 “The squad has so much quality in it”
🔵 “I’m absolutely not here for a quick fix”
🔵 “We need to represent what this town is about – a humble, hard-working place”A pleasure to chat to new @RylandsFC boss @clegg_mc for the first time this morning 👇https://t.co/AWGup9W3Gi
— Matthew Turner (@MattTurner_WG) February 15, 2023
He adds: “If we can, we want to bring local, Warrington-based players in. We’re already working to build a bit of a database of players who play semi-pro who are from Warrington and if so, can we get them in?
“I want to build that bridge between the under 18s, under 21s and the first team because ultimately, I feel like bringing young lads through is one of my strengths as a manager.
“I also want the players to engage rather than just picking their money up, getting in their car and going.
“You’ve got to thank sponsors, meet young fans around the ground, have a beer in the clubhouse – that’s all part of being at this level and that’s what I told them at training on Tuesday. We have to be good people.
“We need to represent what this club and what this town is about because Warrington is a very humble, hard-working place.
“There may have been a reputation in places that Rylands was somewhere you could come and earn an easy quid, but that definitely won’t be the case while I’m in charge.”
🔵FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CLEGGY🔵
We would like to formally introduce and present the first interview with our new first team manager, Michael Clegg!
The club would like to thank all of the applicants for their time and wish them the very best for the future.#WeAreRylands pic.twitter.com/2375Yh2IWL
— Warrington Rylands FC (@RylandsFC) February 15, 2023
Twitter users had their say as the ex-Premier League and EFL player takes up a role at Warrington Rylands…
@morrisbecks7: 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Great appointment and great to see them back in the dugout.
@davedave7: Super happy with this appointment. Hope they both go on to do well. Best of luck to both.
@DouseGeoff: Congratulations and Good luck. Just make sure you keep winning.
@ZakHayes6: Best of luck to them both ✊🏻
@siavvo: We all dream of a team of Nicky Hunts
@Sean_Sherwood: Lads and gaffas 👊🏾❤️💪🏾
@Jo_Ignite: Good luck @clegg_mc 👍
@itstartsmonday: Great stuff Cleggy 🔥
@WestleyBancroft: Nice @clegg_mc all the best mate ⚽️❤️
@Calloutfootball: Let’s see wha happens here ! Another manager moving sideways looking at his contacts in football to bring on loan players by the looks of things from either Bolton and or United
@Luke_Sylvester: Can’t keep away the lad. Good luck @clegg_mc and Nicky. ⚽️🔥
@michaelupton96: If only their first names were swapped around
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