Steve Bruce has prized yet another member from Hull City’s backroom staff as goalkeeping coach Gary Walsh left the KCOM stadium today.
The Tigers released a statement breaking the news that former Manchester United goalkeeper had moved to Aston Villa, having been at the club since the 2011/2012 season. Walsh was part of the coaching staff during the most successful period of the Club’s history. He assisted in two promotions to the Premier League and was also involved in the Tigers’ first ever FA Cup final appearance.
Walsh leaves with best wishes
He was in the dugout for Saturday’s defeat at Watford and the statement said Walsh leaves with their ‘best wishes for the future’.
During his playing career, Walsh played 50 times for United in a ten year career for the Red Devils, in which he went out on two loan deals, at Airdrieonians in Scotland and Oldham Athletic. During these deals, though he only appeared nine times in total. In 1995, he moved to Middlesborough for two years before moving to Bradford City where he made his break, playing 197 times in six years for the Bantams. He picked up Bradford’s player of the year award in the 1997-1998 season.
In 2003, he joined Wigan, the club he first signed for as an apprentice in 1984. He signed a one year extension in 2005 to see the club through the first year of their top flight campaign. He retired in 2006 to move into coaching.
He started his coaching career during his playing time at Wigan and continued after he retired. He followed then-manager Paul Jewell to Derby in 2008. After Derby, he coached at Hartlepool before joining the Tigers’ in December of 2011. He now moves onto Villa as they try to return to the Premier League at the first attempt under Bruce.
Hull City say that the process to find a replacement will start immediately.