Philliskirk seeks coach decision

TONY Philliskirk on match-day duties at Scunthorpe on New Year’s Day.

TONY Philliskirk has called on Athletic to urgently decide the club’s future coaching set-up.

With centre of excellence manager Mick Priest, Philliskirk (47) has been involved in first-team duties for two weeks following the departure of assistant manager Gerry Taggart, head of sports science Paul Butler and first-team coach Lee Duxbury.

Goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard is also assisting manager Paul Dickov.

Unless Dickov brings in someone, head of youth Philliskirk — whose increased workload even included taking the reserves at Blackburn on Tuesday night — will again be offering advice from the dug-out for the Brentford game at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Philliskirk is adamant the situation can’t go on.

“The club is the most important thing and I will do anything to help,” said the former striker. But I feel I am being asked to do too much. It might end up that I am doing a decent job at concentrating on three or four things, rather than a very good job at one. Decisions need to be made.”

Philliskirk admits he has enjoyed the step back up. Whether he ends up staying with Dickov in a revamped coaching team remains to be seen.

“I have enjoyed it and the lads have been very receptive,” Philliskirk added. “Going from the youth team to the first team, it is very different. You are dealing with a totally different mindset.”

One name linked to a role at Athletic is Steve Eyre, the former Manchester City academy coach and Rochdale manager, currently Huddersfield’s senior professional development coach. Willie Donachie has also been mentioned.