Former Premier League star relishing his first managerial gig in ninth tier
Ex-Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is relishing the opportunity to take charge of his first-ever game as a manager in the ninth-tier of English football.
Kenny, 45, was confirmed as Goole's new joint-manager alongside Nathan Helliwell on Tuesday following the departure of former boss Mike Carmody. The Vikings, who play in the Northern Counties Eastern League Premier Division, have made a disappointing start and currently sit 17th after picking up 11 points from 13 matches.
But, after a successful interview process, Kenny was handed his first managerial role, moving back to the level he last played at. The Sheffield United legend outed for Maltby Main during the 2017/18 season, before hanging up his boots following a career spanning over 20 years and almost 700 appearances.
Now, Kenny is preparing for his first game in the dugout when Goole travel to Bradford-based side Eccleshill on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to Mirror Football, Kenny admitted he is "nervous" but looking forward to the prospect of his maiden challenge in management.
"It's a good opportunity, everyone has got to start somewhere and it's a big club for that level," Kenny said. "Me and Nathan are really looking forward to it. He has a great knowledge of that level and we're going to give it our all.
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"It's going to be different. I always used to get nervous as a player, but I think I'll get a little more nervous going out there as a manager. I'm really excited to get out there on Saturday and seeing what we can do."
Kenny dipped into coaching during his time at Northampton, but has not been in a similar role since retiring back in 2018. Instead, he has worked as a director for his PK Transport Movements business, as well as doing after dinners and spending some well-earned time with his family.
However, Kenny has revealed he was offered opportunities elsewhere before taking up his first management role. "We've been asked to go to a couple of other clubs, which I won't mention because they've got other managers now, but we didn't feel like they were right," he explained.
Paddy Kenny worked as a goalkeeper-player coach during his time at Northampton (Getty Images)"They were a little bit below our level as well, and then last weekend I was at the Sheffield United match against Manchester United with Nathan and he said we've got an interview at Goole on Monday. We went in to have the interview and got told that night we were in with a chance, and the next Monday they rang us up and said we've got it if we want it. It was an opportunity to get our foot in the door and see how we get on."
"It has always been one of those things that I've wondered how I will do and whether I could do it," Kenny added. "I know the game, I'm not stupid, I've played under plenty of managers in my time and have picked up things from them about how to manage. It's one of those things I've always thought about and when this opportunity has come along; why not have a go at it? I'm happy to see what can come of it."
Goole decided to part company with Carmody following last Tuesday's 8-0 hammering by Frickley, which left them precariously above the relegation zone. Ahead of Kenny's first game at the helm, the Vikings sit two points above rock bottom Bottesford, but the former Leeds star believes he and Helliwell can turn their fortunes around.
Paddy Kenny alongside now-Wales boss Rob Page in 2016 (Getty Images)He said: "I think the professional knowledge of having played the game in a long career and Nathan has been about as assistant manager at quite a few clubs, and he knows that sort of level. I think we will be a good fit together for us both to do well."
"We've got to [turn it around]. That's why the job was there in the first place and it's normally the case when taking over a new job," Kenny added. "We saw it was 8-0 and that's something we've got to address. I'm a firm believer with me being a goalkeeper that when yo don't concede goals, you're always going to have a chance. It's not rocket science and we've got to get out there and turn that around.
"Listen, conceding goals isn't just about defenders, it starts from the front, that's what we'll be aiming to do, especially after being beaten 8-0 in the last outing. Nathan knows the majority of the players because he has got a lot of knowledge at non-league level.
Paddy Kenny made 67 Premier League appearances (Getty Images)"By all accounts, we've actually got quite a good side. For one reason or another, it's not worked out recently for them, so we're going in there, it's a massive test but one we're both relishing and looking forward to."
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Kenny worked with several different managers during his professional career. Neil Warnock was someone he infamously played under, with the 74-year-old having signed Kenny FIVE times. When asked about whether he will take advice from managers he has worked alongside, the new-Goole boss replied: "I had a lot of managers who all managed differently and they all had their own styles.
"I'll probably be nit-picking little things from a few of them. At some point, I want my own style and me and Nathan have got our own ideas of how we want to play and how we want things to go for us. Along the way there will be a few things that I have taken from previous managers I have played under."
Paddy Kenny is a Sheffield United legend (Getty Images)After working his way through the non-league pyramid, Kenny had a brief stint with Warnock at Bury, before he signed for Sheffield United in 2002. It's safe to say the rest is history as Kenny cemented himself as a Blades legend, having clocked 318 appearances across eight years before joining QPR.
Kenny played 67 Premier League matches during his career and went on to feature for the likes of Leeds and Oldham before retiring at the age of 39. Reflecting on his playing career, Kenny said: "It wasn't until Covid when I looked back on my career. I didn't come a footballer until I was 20, I was told by Halifax Town at 15 that I was never tall enough and wouldn't make a goalkeeper.
"Obviously, proved them wrong and I didn't even have a goalie coach until I was 25 at Sheffield United. So, I had something naturally to be playing at a professional level and I look back now, every time when you play football and are in that bubble, you don't realise what you've achieved. To go on to play for my country, to play in the Premier League and become a footballer in the first time, you've got to be proud of yourself."
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