LIVERSEDGE'S new assistant manager Sean Regan is grateful for the club's flexibility, as he attempts to balance a hectic work life.

Regan, who only left Eccleshill United in May, is back in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division with their Bradford rivals, and is already enjoying his new role.

Having managed Sedge a decade ago, the playing staff have changed somewhat, but he is thrilled to have his former attacker Paul Walker back, on loan from Farsley Celtic.

Discussing his return to non-league, Regan said: "It's just been really interesting. We're still at the same sort of level as we were 10 years ago, although obviously the players are different nowadays.

"But I've not been out of the game long, just six months, so there was no real time to reflect.

"Sedge wanted me to support Rimmo (manager Jonathan Rimmington) but it took me a while to consider, as I never anticipated getting back into it so quickly.

"They've been really flexible with it all though, and as I was here a decade ago, it's been nice to see some old faces."

Most of those will be off the pitch, but Regan's return has also coincided with that of the prolific Walker.

The new assistant manager is delighted, saying: "It's nice because he was one of my first big signings when I was manager.

"He's always been talented and even back then, clubs of that calibre (Farsley) and higher wanted him.

"It's no surprise what he's done in his career. He's a credit to himself, a top, top player and a great guy.

"I like him because he's got a lot of ambition and just wants to play football. Bringing talented players in like him will mean players want to play for us."

Many of those players could come from grassroots football, where Sean also works, alongside his day job as a PE teacher.

He said: "My main job is as a PE teacher but outside of work, I've worked for the FA mentoring grassroots coaches for six and a half years.

"I was a teacher in the 10 years before that, delivering education courses for the FA.

"Now, I mentor coaches at grassroots clubs of any level, helping them with their understanding of football and learning of how to teach players."

He did not get much chance to teach last Saturday, and was thrown straight into action as his new side Sedge picked up an impressive 2-2 draw at NCEL Premier Division leaders Penistone Church.

Speaking about the game, Regan said: "It was a good introduction for me to get back into it all.

"It's a really hard-working group and the team impressed everybody watching. They were unfortunate not to get the three points, as they played well enough to do that."

Sedge visit third-bottom Bottesford Town today, and Regan said: "If the players come into it with the same attitude as they had at Penistone, that should be the foundation for a positive result."