Press article:
Barton is hoping to follow in Scott's steps - 05/11/2005
Warren Barton has set his sights on a career in football management and is using Hartlepool United manager Martin Scott as a role model.
Since 2004 the former Newcastle United full-back has spent his weekdays coaching Conference club Dagenham and Redbridge.
When the Daggers take on Scott's team at Victoria Park this afternoon Barton will be doing his weekend job for Sky TV but it is in coaching, rather than the media, that he sees his future.
"I've really enjoyed it," 36-year-old Barton says of his work at Dagenham, where he started his playing career. "I've been in the game 19 years and the media work I'm doing now has been great, but I'm looking to get into football coaching.
"I've got all the qualifications, now I just need experience."
Like Scott, who worked his way up from youth team coach, to reserve team manager, then assistant manager, before finally taking the top job at
"Martin's got a good name in the game and it's no surprise to people who know him that he's doing well there," Barton said of the former
"It's difficult to take a job on today. With the influence of foreign coaches, who usually bring their own people in, you have to try and learn your trade where you can.
"It has to be at the lower leagues really, so you can show what you can do."
Unlike most professionals, whose thoughts generally turn to coaching only when they realise their playing days are numbered, Barton has had his eye on it for years.
"I've been coaching since I was 20," he revealed.
"I was just coaching kids and I had a
"Even at 20 I knew I wanted to go into coaching and I used to go along and get good experience. People in
At Dagenham and Redbridge, who are making their eighth appearance in the first round of the competition, Barton feels he has found an ideal place to further his education.
"Working with Dagenham and the first team there you learn so much," he said. "John Still was my manager 18 years ago and knows non-league and lower league football better than anyone else I know.
"A few years ago they had some good games against
"
"Martin Scott will have done his homework and will know all about us. We've got a lot of pace and can cause a few problems."
The team sheet for today's game will be of great interest to fans of both
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