Former FA Cup finalist, 48, begins new career as assistant kit man after suddenly quitting Red Bull job

FORMER FA Cup finalist Brett Ormerod has begun his new job as Bolton’s assistant kit man.

SunSport revealed last month that the ex-striker would be linking up with former Blackpool team-mates Ian Evatt, Stephen Crainey and Matt Gilks with the League One side.

Ormerod, 48, had only recently taken up a new job with Red Bull.

But after speaking with old pal Evatt, he decided to move to Bolton.

Writing in his Blackpool Gazette column, Ormerod explained how things came together.

He admitted: “It’s good to be back in football, especially alongside the manager (Evatt), Matt Gilks and Stephen Crainey – it’s been like old times.

“Andy Taylor is also here – he was at Fylde at the same time as me. There’s a lot of people I know, so it’s been a smooth transition into the role.

“I’d only just started a new job with Red Bull before handing my notice in. It all happened very quickly.

“I met up with Evo and we had a good conversation. I knew if I didn’t take it now, then I might not get another like it, and it would’ve been a decision I regretted for the rest of my life.”

Ormerod began his career at Accrington Stanley in the 1990s, before moving to Blackpool for his first stint Bloomfield Road stint in 1997.

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He subsequently went to Southampton in 2001 and spent five years at St Mary’s, playing in the 2003 FA Cup final for Saints.

Via stints at Leeds, Wigan, Preston, Nottingham Forest and Oldham he eventually returned to Blackpool in 2009, where he would play alongside Evatt, Crainey and Gilks.

Following spells in non-league, Ormerod went on to coach at AFC Fylde.

On what he intends to bring to his new role at Bolton, he added: “I am a kit man, but I will also be on the training field, joining in and taking some shooting practice.

“Hopefully I can give them a bit of luck to get promoted, as they got as far as they could last season without going up.

“I think they’re getting more than a kit man. If I can play a small role in making the players better then I’ll be a very happy man.”

Bolton are seventh in the League One table, 10 points off leaders Wycombe with a game in hand.

This Saturday the Trotters host Wigan Athletic, before a trip to Wycombe on December 20.