Sharp-shooter Chris is giving Blues the edge

EYEBROWS were raised when former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo was appointed as assistant manager of Chester FC late last year, after the more defensive-minded Ian Sharps left for Walsall.

- Steve Hill

However, it’s not the welltravelled forward’s first association with the club, which was his 18th and last as a player. Serendipitously, The NLP meets up with the imposing Iwelumo in the car park of Braintree Town FC, scene of his one and only goal for the Cheshire outfit.

That deft far-post header now stands as the last ever professional goal of a long and varied career, as he finally announced his retirement at the end of October 2014.

“I was going to retire that summer and Steve Burr convinced me to come in,” says Iwelumo of his time at the Deva.

His short spell with the Blues must have resonated though, as he embraced the chance to once again work with Jon McCarthy, the former assistant-now-turnedmanager following the departure of Burr.

“Obviously I know Jon very well,” says Iwelumo. “And it worked to get back in doing the coaching side of things and getting amongst it – that I was excited about.

“So when the opportunity came up it was one that I had to really think about and I’m delighted I’m here.”