Chris Greenacre says he won’t be afraid to dish out the ‘hairdryer’ treatment on under-performing players if the need arises.
The Wellington Phoenix front-man has taken on a second role as the strikers coach at the A-League club and with 17 years experience as a professional player knows when the blowtorch needs to be applied and when a more relaxed approach works better.
“It’s all about man-management and I know what makes me tick as a player. At times you do need a kick up the backside and at other times players need an arm around the shoulder,” the Englishman said.
“Players don’t always need the hairdryer treatment, they need to be told, but if players do keep making mistakes then, at times, you do have to lose your temper.”
Greenacre is confident there will be no conflict of interest between his job as a player and as a coach after talking with senior players before agreeing to take on the new role.
“That was one of my biggest fears to be honest,” said the Greenacre, who has already completed his UEFA B coaching licence.
“But we had a meeting with all the senior players and they all said that they thought it would be a good role for me as long as I can keep the football paramount and it is first on my agenda, which it will always be.”
“My fear was that I don’t want to be kind of a snitch, as it were, in training.”
“If people have got problems with the manager or the physios, or whoever, that’s their problem, that’s nothing to do with me and I won’t be going and telling on players and that kind of thing.”
The 33-year-old, who has scored 14 goals in his two seasons at the club, stressed he remained committed to the playing side of things but knows his extra responsibilities won’t get him any favours from head coach Ricki Herbert.
“I won’t be getting any special privileges. If I’m playing well and doing well enough to be in the team, hopefully I will be,” Greenacre said.
“There’ll be times when I’m not and Ricki will want to drop me. It’s those time when I need to be professional and keep my head about me and give me all on the coaching side.”
“Ricki will be picking the team, squad rotation. All that kind of stuff will be left to Ricki and I’ll hopefully be helping where I can.”