Nigel Spink says he isn’t returning to Aston Villa.
Aston Villa hero Nigel Spink has told BBC Sport that there is no truth to the story that he could join the club’s coaching staff alongside Steve Bruce.
Bruce, 55, looks to be the hot favourite to take the Aston Villa job having left Hull City over the summer, with Villa searching for a new boss having sacked Roberto Di Matteo last week.
Bruce may have four promotions to the Premier League on his CV, but his links to Villa’s fierce rivals Birmingham City mean that some fans aren’t so keen on the idea of him succeeding Di Matteo.
Nigel Spink
Intriguingly, The Sun reported on Sunday that Bruce was already putting together a coachincg staff for Villa, and wanted to bring in an Aston Villa legend to appease fans.
The report claimed that Bruce had identified Nigel Spink as a man he wanted to bring back to Villa Park, eyeing him up as a potential goalkeeping coach at Villa Park.
Spink made more than 450 appearances for Villa during a near-20 years at the club, and remains a favourite among supporters who remember his heroics in goal, meaning a return may well please some fans.
Ex-Hull manager Steve Bruce
However, Spink today told BBC Sport that he isn’t heading back to Villa Park, as he feels that he is too old to get back into coaching at the age of 58, having last coached in 2013 with Bristol City.
Spink added that he hasn’t spoken to Bruce for around 18 months, and would say no to the job even if Bruce did offer him an Aston Villa return.
Former Hull manager Steve Bruce
“I’m racing towards 60. If I started kicking 100 balls a day, probably my leg would fall off,” said Spink. “I’m pro Steve Bruce. And I’m happy to speak to him about all departments and would give him 100 per cent backing. But there’s nothing in that story.”
“I haven’t spoken to Steve for some 18 months or so. I texted him when Hull City got to the FA Cup final, wished him all the best and got a nice reply. But I’ve since been busy with my business. And if he was to ask me, the answer would probably be no. That might come as a surprise to Villa fans, but a goalkeeping coach job is for a younger man,” he added.
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