FLEDGLING coach Ashley Vincent believes he can bring a “fresh energy” to Worcester City after being appointed as the club’s new assistant manager.

The 33-year-old former Cheltenham Town winger, who had a short spell as a player at Worcester, is looking to carve out a career in coaching after hanging up his boots last year.

And he reckons City will offer him the “perfect” platform to develop as he looks forward to assisting boss John Snape next season.

In March, Vincent had agreed to become the next manager of Cradley Town and was due to start his new role this summer.

But Vincent felt he would have been “fighting against a tide” at the West Midlands League Premier Division outfit and was given permission to leave.

“I had agreed to become Cradley’s manager about three months ago but circumstances changed there with the people upstairs coming in and out,” Vincent said.

“I am 33 years old so I didn’t need to put myself in a situation where I felt like I would have been digging myself a hole with people every week.

“I have left now and the chairman understands that. He was disappointed but I had to do it for the sake of my coaching career.

“Worcester City is a perfect opportunity for me so I couldn’t turn them down.”

After coming through the ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Vincent went on to play for Cheltenham Town, Port Vale, Colchester United and Shrewsbury Town.

He joined City in the summer of 2015 only to last five months as he struggled to nail down a starting spot.

But Vincent said he had remained in contact with Snape and reckoned it “made sense” for him to take the job.

“It didn’t work out how I would have wanted it to (at City last time),” Vincent said.

“But I am coming back in a totally different role.

“I know the club, the people and Snapper.”

Vincent ran Cheltenham’s under 16s last season and currently works as a football coach at Halesowen College.

“I think I will bring a fresh energy,” said Vincent who is close to completing his UEFA B licence.

“A lot of teams are now going for young coaches and managers as they bring a fresh outlook.

“I know Snapper has been at the club for a little while and sometimes you can get caught up in seeing old things but I have got a fresh pair of eyes.

“I have got my own opinions but our ideas on football and the way we want to play are very similar so I think we will complement each other really well.

“Whatever he needs me to help him out with I will be there to do it.”

City have also confirmed Luca Gabriel will remain as manager of the reserves and first-team coach while Aaron White stays on as head scout.

The exiled club, who play at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground, finished the 2017-18 campaign in fourth position.

Vincent added: “During my time at City I got the feeling that it was missing that final piece of the jigsaw and that’s probably having their own ground.

“Once it has that it will go from strength to strength and become a very big club.”