JAKE Speight openly admits his mentality as a player let him down – and it’s exactly why the former Bradford City, Wrexham and Mansfield Town striker is so well-placed to make a success of his second career as an agent.
The 32-year-old decided to walk away from playing just over two years ago as his agency, Fifteen Eleven Management, continued to grow.
Since then he’s built a portfolio of players in the Championship to bright NonLeague talents.
In all, he’s helped more than 30 players progress their careers from Non-League into the Football League and SPL.
“It was something I’d put in place before I knew where my career was going towards the end. Mentally, I had switched off from football and that was the deciding factor,” Speight told The FLP.
Character
“It was the guidance and helping players long-term that appealed to me. That’s the side I enjoy. Seeing players get to where they need to be.
“I did my last two deals myself, but even before that I was interested in it. When all the boys went and did their coaching badges, I didn’t because I knew it wasn’t for me.
Denne historien er fra December 17, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 17, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
I'd still want to keep Pat on side
Patrick Bamford has always been a player who divides opinion amongst Leeds supporters.
WHITES & THE BLADES SPEED ON
LEEDS and Sheffield United maintained their pace at the top of the table with comfortable home victories - but Sunderland slipped off the summit.
BAILEY: WE'LL GIVE POPPIES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE
OWEN Bailey knows exactly how pumped up seventh-tier Kettering Town will be when Doncaster Rovers roll into ramshackle Latimer Park today.
TOWN EARN THEIR CORN!
HARROGATE mon Weaver breathed a sigh of relief after his side edged past Gainsborough Trinity at a rain-sodden Exercise Stadium.
OH MY JOSH - O'S KEEPER IS THE HERO!
RICHIE Wellens praised keeper Josh Keeley as Leyton Orient reached the third round following a dramatic win over National League Oldham.
'IT HASN'T BEEN MY WHOLE FOCUS AND THAT HELPED ME
SHAUN Barker never attempted to conceal the fact that he had no burning desire to play football.
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
