Jon Daly Interview

Jon Daly started his career with Stockport County before moving to Scotland with Dundee United and Rangers.

In this interview, we talk about his career as a player, a coach and his life after football

How did it feel making your debut as Stockport County’s 2nd youngest player?

It wasn’t something I wasn’t particularly aware of at the time, it was only after the event that I found out about it. I possibly didn’t appreciate it at the time but looking back now it vindicates my decision to sign for Stockport.

I had other options at the time but felt that Stockport would be the best place for me to learn my trade and that I would also get opportunities at 1st team level if I worked hard enough.

After a few loans & a spell at Hartlepool you moved to Scotland, how did you adjust to life in the SPL?

I was happy to go to Scotland at that stage of my career. I always tried to take something from my experiences with different clubs but I felt a fresh start was great for me at that time.

I spoke to a few people about the possible move when I got wind of Dundee United’s interest. Gavin Strachan who was a teammate at Hartlepool had the experience of playing in Scotland with Dundee and Motherwell. He told me to jump at the chance if it came about.

Noel Hunt who I had played within the Republic of Ireland underage set up was at Dundee United then. He gave me an insight into the club and told me what I should expect if I was to sign.

In a playing sense I was very surprised at the standard. The SPL didn’t get much coverage in England at the time, so I didn’t have any preconceptions. I thought the game was less physical than what I had been used too in the lower leagues in England.

Each game in England’s League 1 or League 2 was always a battle physically. I thought there was less emphasis on that in Scotland, which I felt helped me as the defenders struggled to deal with that style.

You have now moved into coaching, how have you found the change from playing? What courses were done initially and experience gained at the start of your coaching journey?

I have really enjoyed the transition. I loved playing the game & feel really lucky to have had such a long career as a player.

One thing I don’t miss however is waking up the day after a game with so many aches and pains!

The change across to coaching has certainly opened my eyes to the level of work done by the coach prior to each session. As a player, I never would have considered the hours of thought and planning that goes into each training session.

Prior to moving into coaching, I had done my UEFA B Licence with the Scottish FA. I was in the process of applying for my A Licence when I received a call about the Under-20 role at Heart of Midlothian.

I met with Craig Levein, Ann Budge & Robbie Nielson to discuss the role, after which I was offered the job.

I had little very little experience coaching so it was a huge step but one that I was delighted to make. I was still playing at Raith Rovers at the time so I had to decide if wanted to retire from playing.

My plan originally had been to play on for another few years and start coaching during this period to gain the necessary experience required. However, when a club the size of Heart of Midlothian offers you an opportunity to work with some top quality young players it is hard to turn down.

In the end, it was an easy decision to retire when I did and one I do not regret making.

What would you say your coaching style/philosophy consists of?

I love to look at all the top coaches to see how they conduct themselves and how they operate. I think we can learn something from everyone.

My style involves togetherness, what I mean by that, is that I want the players to feel part of the process. I want an openness where they can ask questions and test me as a coach.

As a player, I always put the team before my own needs and I try to bring that across in my coaching.

I want to control the flow of a game as a coach and believe that having a team that is comfortable in possession and players that want the ball can help with that. I also want to see a hunger in the players to get the ball back when they lose it.

I’m not a coach who has a set system in terms of what shape I prefer to play, I think that has to be guided by the players you have at your disposal.

You coached at Heart of Midlothian for 4 years from u20’s to 1st team. What did you learn from those experiences positive and negative?

I had a fantastic time at the club and have made some friends for life during my time there. I was extremely lucky to not only work with some quality players but also some top quality backroom staff.

During my time at the club, there were a few highs and as is the way with football plenty of lows. Starting off with the Under-20’s really was a baptism of fire in terms of how to deal with losing players at the last minute when you are more or less ready to start your session.

On numerous occasions, I would have my session ready to go and Stevie Crawford would run in and say he needed X, Y or Z! Learning to adapt quickly & tweak a session so the players don’t miss out was certainly tough but something I felt helped me enormously.

Having the opportunity to take the team on an interim basis was an incredible experience. Dealing with all the issues that come with taking a 1st team squad was something I really enjoyed, from collaborating with the staff about training to doing weekly media duties although daunting at first felt very natural.

Getting the chance to remain on the staff as a 1st team coach when the manager was appointed was a great learning experience.

To go from the high of being top of the table with the team playing really well, to the low of dropping away quickly with your top players sidelined through injuries thought me the importance of having a well-balanced squad.

What are your ambitions as a coach moving forward & how have you kept your eye in since leaving Hearts?

I am a very ambitious person in general but after the experiences with taking the team at Hearts, I would like to manage at some stage in the future.

I’m not in a serious rush to get there though, as I want to continue to learn and acquire as much information as I can to help me when an opportunity presents itself.

Since leaving Hearts I have tried to be proactive with my time. I have gone and done some club visits in England and Scotland to see how other managers and coaches work.

I also went to the US Soccer Coaches Convention in Baltimore in January. That was an incredible experience & I met some fantastic people out there.

After the convention, I went on a club visit to Philadelphia Union to complete part of my UEFA Pro Licence curriculum. Again, another great experience offering an in-depth look at all the good things going on within the Union.

I have been attending as many games as possible to keep up to date with everything that is going on in Scottish game.

I have also done some media work for BBC Scotland that has involved co-commentary which I find very interesting.

I have also used this period to spend time with my family. Sometimes as coaches we can get caught up in all that is going on in the world of football that we forget to appreciate the time we have with our loved ones.

Would you look at options outside the UK to extend your coaching experiences? Would you
see that as a challenge?

As a player, I was close to going to South Africa. I went and trained with Bidvest Wits before the deal fell through. It was something I wanted to experience as a player as I felt it would have helped me with my coaching career.

I would definitely be open to that as a coach. I think it would be a great learning experience dealing with different styles and cultures. Of course, it would be a challenge as I’m not sure what the family would do.

Whether they came with me would depend on where the adventure would take us. It is something I would 100% consider if the opportunity came about.

Best manager played under? And why? How did they influence your coaching style?

I have been very fortunate to work with some top managers and coaches. Gary Megson and Mike Phelan were the management team at Stockport County when I signed as a 15-year-old.

Having the chance to train with the 1st team under there guidance was a great experience especially when I look at where they went onto coach and manage.

Craig Levein, Peter Houston and Tony Docherty were the backroom staff when I signed for Dundee United. They were all different but worked really well as a team.

I felt most at home when I was there and would probably say that they were the best management team.

I haven’t picked a manager on his own as I believe it is not a journey you take alone when you are a manager. I feel it is important to have a good staff around you that help, challenge and support one another to get the best out of themselves.