Cole Skuse has already started thinking about a career beyond playing football — and he is not considering a future as a manager.
Skuse, who at 30 still has plenty of football in his legs, is attracted to becoming a coach but a chat with Bristol City boss Lee Johnson, a former team-mate at Ashton Gate, has put him off becoming the man in charge.
He revealed: "I still speak to Lee, who was a colleague of mine at Bristol City and is now managing the club.
"I actually spoke to him after they played Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. I think they were 2-1 up when they missed a penalty then had a man sent off and went on to lose 3-2.
"That sort of swerved me off being a manager. When I spoke to Lee he wasn’t best pleased but he has done a fantastic job there and he has all the attributes to do well at a club of that size.
"But I don’t think I want to go down the management route — coaching maybe but not management.
"I’m still only 30 but I accept I’m not getting any younger. I have thought about what I might do after my playing career is over and I’ve got some things in place. My wife and I have invested our money into certain things and I’m doing some coaching badges.
"I also really enjoy the media side of football so I’d like to have a look at that route. But I don’t feel that old yet and my kids are keeping me young at the moment.”
He may not want to follow in his footsteps but Skuse admits he is always learning from boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant, Terry Connor, adding: "You pick things up from them all the time, off the field as well as on it. Both Mick and TC, you can take a lot from the two of them.
"For example, the way they conduct themselves. They are never too high when things are going well or too low if they’re not.
"They are always on a level plateau and I take a lot from that. You can read a lot from managers from the way they conduct themselves and I have taken a lot from them both.
"Mick is as good as any manager I’ve played under. He’s been there as a player and also at the highest level as manager of the Republic of Ireland international team.
"You can’t really question what he’s done as a club manager either. I’ve not played for loads of managers but he’s the best.”