JOHN Watson is looking forward to his new role at Witham Town this year as he balances playing responsibilities with a step into the unknown as a coach.

As well as his duties in the heart of the Town midfield in their Bostik League division north campaign, the 34-year-old Witham stalwart will be working as part of new manager Mark Ashford’s coaching set-up.

Ashford was keen to have Watson on board as a coach and to use his experience and working alongside the new boss and assistant manager Matt Singh is a role that the player is looking forward to.

Watson said: “It’s been interesting working with Mark (Ashford) and Matt (Singh) so far.

“I’ve never done the coaching side of it before and I’ve just been watching what they’ve been doing and trying to pick things up because they are very good coaches.

“I’m trying to learn off them and pick up things as we go along.

“They see things that I wouldn’t even have seen in games and when they’ve picked them out I’ve though ‘yeah, you’re right’ and I’m seeing things in a new way.

“Playing is a totally different thing but listening to them opens it in a completely new way.

“You can see that Mark is bringing things in in a new way for the players and if everyone gets on board and listens to him then we should have a good season.

“He’s such a qualified coach – he’s got more badges than a boy scout – and I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him.

“There are little things that he says that can make things so much easier and he’s a very intelligent coach.”

Watson isn’t ready to hang up his boots just yet, though, and wants to continue having an impact on the pitch, but he admits he will have to battle for his place in a strong-looking Witham side.

“I’m not worried about balancing the playing and the coaching, because firstly I want to play,” he added.

“But I know I can’t play every game; we have a lot of good players who have come in and my time may be limited.

“The players Mark has brought in are young – I don’t think anyone is over the age of 25.

“I’ll be 35 in November and I really am an older one, but with us having a young squad, I think having experience in there can help.

“We’ll see how it goes, but I just want to learn as much as I can with Mark and Matt.

“If Mark asks me to do bits of coaching then I can.

“I’ve started following coaching things online to pick up little things and I’ll pick up things off Mark to make sure I can take sessions when he wants me to.”