Crewe Alex: Is Deano ready to make Alex return?

By ggriffiths crewe alex gwyn griffiths

FORMER Crewe star Dean Ashton is considering a coaching career as he plans for life after his injury-enforced retirement.

The 26-year-old West Ham striker was forced to quit the game before Christmas due to a long-term ankle injury initially picked up on England duty in 2006.

A philosophical Ashton stresses he was privileged to enjoy a career as a professional career, however short.

And he says his happy memories of his time in the Alex Academy could motivate him to remain in football in some capacity.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi has already said he will offer his former match-winner a helping hand if he chooses to follow a coaching path.

Gradi has appointed several former players, such as Colin Little and Lee Bell, to part-time Academy roles at Reaseheath.

Ashton said: "Football is all I've known and it would be nice to get back into the game in some capacity.

"Possibly I'd consider coaching as I remember how good it was being in an Academy at Crewe. I might enjoy something like that, although I wouldn't know unless I had a go."

After making a successful switch from Norwich to West Ham, Ashton was forced to miss the entire 2006/2007 campaign and then struggled to regain full fitness on his return.

Although he eventually made his international debut in a friendly against Trinidad, he continued to be dogged by the problem and last played for the Hammers in August 2008.

After undergoing surgery recently to fuse the damaged ankle, medics hope he will eventually be able to walk again without pain.

"I won't be able to run again, play football or any dynamic sport," explained Ashton, "but for me the operation will hopefully mean I can walk properly, exercise and play golf.

"There's no point in moping and thinking about what could have been.

"Instead I've got to think what a fantastic career I've had.

"Scoring in an FA Cup final and representing your country, even though I played only one game, will stay with me forever.

"I've got friends from my Crewe days who didn't make it. I did and got to play in great stadiums in front of a lot of people. Looking back, I can think how privileged I was to do what I did."

Ashton made his Crewe debut when just 16, going on to score 74 times in less than 150 starts for the Railwaymen.