Former Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End midfielder Paul Gallagher has left his role on the Stoke City coaching staff, the club have confirmed.
Gallagher returned to the Bet365 Stadium last summer to become part of Alex Neil’s backroom team, having previously worked under the manager as a player at Deepdale for four years. At the time, then-sporting director Ricky Martin was full of praise for the ex-Scotland international.
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“Paul is an important addition to our coaching team. He has earned a reputation at Preston as a high-quality operator and is fulfilling the potential Alex [Neil] previously saw in him.”
Unfortunately, Neil was dismissed midway through the campaign after a dreadful run of results forced the board to pull the trigger on his time in charge. Gallagher was handed the job on an interim basis and oversaw draws against West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City, two results which proved pivotal to the Potters’ survival in the Championship this season as the side finished merely six points above the relegation zone. He then remained on the coaching staff once Steven Schumacher took the reins for the remainder of the campaign.
However, Stoke released a club statement earlier today, revealing that the Blackburn Rovers academy product has now left his post under Schumacher, although no official reason was given behind the decision.
In a club statement, newly-appointed sporting director Jonathan Walters wished the 39-year-old all the best in the future and thanked him for his services as both a player and as a coach over the past two decades.
“I wish to place on record the Club’s thanks to Paul for his work and dedication as part of our first team staff, and during his interim period in charge, last season.
“Having returned to Stoke City as a coach after previously enjoying success here as a player, Paul will rightly always receive a warm welcome from supporters when he returns to the bet365 Stadium in the future. Everyone connected with the Club wishes him all the very best.”
Writer’s View
Gallagher enjoyed a lengthy and fruitful playing career, making 61 appearances in the Premier League, 80 in League One and a whopping 411 in the Championship across clubs such as Blackburn Rovers, Stoke, Leicester City, Plymouth Argyle and, most notably, Preston.
He also played a crucial role in helping the Potters to stave off an unprecedented relegation to the third tier, stepping in as interim boss when the club needed him most. He will certainly be remembered fondly at the club but it will be interesting to see what happens next for the Glaswegian.
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