New coach taps up pro mates

It hasn't taken long for Rob Kozluk to start paying his way at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Ilkeston FC, writes Matt Halfpenny.

Within days of joining the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division club in a player-coach capacity alongside manager Kevin Wilson, Kozluk, pictured, signed his own home and away sponsors after tapping up his former Sheffield United colleagues Phil Jagielka, Michael Tonge and Michael Brown.

The trio were quick to wish him luck when word got around about his move to the New Manor Ground so the experienced utility player revealed he took the opportunity to talk them into lending him their financial support too!

He said: "All three of them are good mates of mine from our time together at Bramall Lane and when I asked them to sponsor me, they didn't need any persuading. It's really good of them but I like to think I would do them same for them. Mind you, I’m sure it would cost me a fair bit more at Everton or Leeds!"

So can we expect Jagielka, Brown or Tonge to turn up at the New Manor Ground some time, checking out the form of the former England Under-21 star, who clocked up more than 300 Football League appearances over a 15-year period?

Possibly as Ilkeston's new coach added: "Maybe they could turn up one day - especially as we play our midweek games on Mondays - but I suppose it depends on whether they are free. They obviously have their own games to worry about."

Picture courtesy of Robbie Stephenson