Former Chesterfield academy coach Danylyszn targeting a Football League career

Andrew Danylyszn (right) with fellow Lambs boss Gary Smith. Photo: Tamworth FC

The campaign was going well for the Tamworth joint manager as the Lambs sat second in the BetVictor Southern League Premier Central Division, level on points with leaders Peterborough Sports and with three games in hand when the campaign was brought to an abrupt halt due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The FA's decision to null and void the season was a frustrating one for Danylyszn, as deciding the outcome on a points per game basis would have seen him secure a league title in his first full term as a manager.

But he remained optimistic, preferring to concentrate on the positives.

"It was my first full season at it. To put my philosophy over to the lads and get results, a philosophy I brought with me from the academies, is a great feeling," he said.

Danylyszn's playing career included stints with Eastwood Town and FC Cavaliers. It was Paul Cox, his former Eastwood manager, who gave him his break in coaching at the Mansfield academy, before Danylyszn moved to Chesterfield.

"I had a really good time at Chesterfield, I really enjoyed it," he said.

"Like Mansfield, it was a real working men's club attitude, where they believed you had to really graft for success.

"They had similar sayings at the the clubs - 'winners do more', 'if you fall down seven, get up eight'.

"These messages stuck with me, words we've now got up at the training room at Tamworth."

After leaving Chesterfield, Danylyszn worked as first-team coach at Guiseley, before stints at the West Bromwich Albion and Tamworth academies.

As a manager and coach he likes his teams to play a high-tempo possession game, with the ethos on players winning their individual battles. But just as much graft goes in off the pitch as on it, with Danylyszn spending hours each week studying the opposition.

"I'm starving to go into league management,” added Danylyszn, who says his first job is to help guide Tamworth back to non-league’s top division, beginning with promotion when football returns.