Skipper Carlos Edwards has revealed that he has ambitions to enter the coaching and management side of the game once he finally decides to hang up his boots. The Trinidadian is 34 next Wednesday, but shows no signs of retiring any time soon.
Edwards says he has no problem with dealing with the type of stresses and strains that boss Paul Jewell is currently under: "If I am put off by the pressure I should just pack it in now and go and work in a pub or something. I would love to go into management one day.
"The beauty of it is that you don’t know what to expect. I am going to continue giving my all for the manager, the club and the fans, then see how it goes from there.”
He says he enjoys wearing the skipper’s armband, which he was handed midway through last season: "As the captain I have a responsibility on and off the pitch. I want us to push up the table into the top half and then go from there.
"It won’t just be my voice in the dressing room because everyone is a leader and they can all voice their opinions on certain things.
"It is up to me to take those opinions back to the manager and he will have the final word. To be fair everyone is absolutely buzzing and while we know the table doesn’t lie, that we really are in the bottom two, it is only going to get better with us sticking together as a team, as a squad and as a management unit. We believe we can go forward.”
Edwards’s relationship with boss Paul Jewell remains strong, although he pointed out: "Whatever discussions the players are having I will not be rushing to tell the manager.
"But if he wants to have a word with me concerning certain things I will have no choice but to tell him ‘This is the situation’. If he thinks things are getting a bit out of hand it is up to him to stamp his authority.
"If he asks the questions I will answer and tell him about any concerns the lads might have. Then it is up to him.”
On a personal note Edwards says that his twins, born prematurely weighing two pounds each, are in good health having celebrated their first birthdays last week.
The babies spent the first six weeks of their lives in hospital, including a spell in intensive care, before being allowed home to Edwards and his wife Denille.
He said: "My wife and kids are the ones who keep me going — that’s the secret. I’m happy and they always say that if a footballer is happy at home he is going to enjoy his football and I hope it continues.
"I’m feeling fit and doing whatever it takes to keep going. I take every day as it comes and I am enjoying my football.
"The twins are both very good. The doctors have given them the all-clear and they are keeping me on my toes. They are also keeping me up at night!”
Meanwhile, Blues midfielder Josh Carson was an unused sub as Northern Ireland impressively drew 1-1 in Portugal last night.