Wrexham's Gareth Taylor to join Man City as coach
Last updated on .From the section Football
Gareth Taylor's playing career with Wrexham has ended after he accepted a coaching job with Manchester City.
The 38-year-old striker, who spent three years on City's books earlier in his career, will work on the club's project to nurture players from Dubai.
Taylor will work alongside another former Wrexham striker, Neil Roberts.
"The pull was very big and obviously I understood I couldn't carry on playing for ever," said Taylor, who has played one game for the Dragons this season.
"It's the perfect stepping stone. I've worked at first-team level at Wrexham, which is great, and hopefully I see myself going to first-team level again one day.
"But for the time being this does give me a really good grounding."
Taylor said he has been preparing for a career as a coach since he turned 30 and he thanked Wrexham manager Dean Saunders for giving him more coaching responsibility at the club over recent months.
"I've had a great education at Wrexham, especially working closely with Dean this season," added the former Wales international.
"He's given me a great opportunity by taking coaching sessions myself.
"But when the opportunity came along last week [from City] it was one I couldn't turn down."
Taylor will be on familiar ground when he starts his new work. The generously funded City academy is based at the Platt Lane complex where he once trained with the first team.
"You wouldn't recognise the place now from when I used to train there," said Taylor, who made 56 appearances for City between 1998 to 2001.
City's wealth has changed also beyond all recognition since Taylor's days playing in League One in a dilapidated Maine Road.
The financial contrast between his new employers and Wrexham could hardly be starker either as Taylor leaves a club still teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
But, with new owners on the verge of taking over and the club occupying top spot in the Blue Square Bet Premier after eight games, the nomadic striker feels the future in bright for the Dragons.
"I think the club is going places," he said.
"If they can keep hold of Dean - I know clubs will be circling because he's done some really good things - then they can be successful this season."
