Sheffield Wednesday: How new coach Andy Holdsworth plans to help the first team

The former Huddersfield Town midfielder has been appointed Professional Development Phase manager and will oversee Hillsborough's under-18 prospects.

"I was a professional footballer for 14 years and I always wanted to make that transition into coaching," he said. "Hopefully I can help produce players for the first team."

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Holdsworth, now aged 34, made more than 200 appearances for the Terriers and also had spells at Oldham Athletic, Morecambe, Alfreton Town and Guiseley before cutting his teeth as a coach with Barnsley's younger age groups.

He was in his early 20s when he decided coaching would be his way forward once his playing days were over.

"I was pretty young, around 23 or 24," he said. "Football makes your world go round because it's where you're at and what you've done since being a little kid. You want to stay in the game forever.

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'What I didn't want to do is finish my career and then go into something completely different.

'They always say the thing you miss from football is that dressing -room environment and being day to day with a football. I think if I came away from all that it would knock me for six.

"I am very thankful to Steven Haslam, Daral Pugh and other members of the (Academy team, and to the club, for giving me this opportunity."