Bristol City and Ipswich Town hero takes first job in management after retirement

Former Bristol City midfieler Cole Skuse has taken his first steps into management after he hung up the boots on his playing career.

He has been appointed manager of non-league side Bury Town, who play in the Isthmian League North Division which is eighth tier of English football. It is his first job in management after a coaching job at a nearby college.

His contract with Colchester United expired at the end of this season and now he will turn his hand to management after his recently announced retirement. His appointment could mean that younger players at Bristol City could now have a loan destination to help aid their development.

After being appointed manager of the Suffolk based club, he said to their official club website: “I am really looking to forward to joining Bury Town and meeting the players and staff.

“Having left Colchester United at the end of my contract I am now ready to start my first job in management and excited to get started.”

The 37-year-old started his career at Ashton Gate and was handed his debut by club legend Brian Tinnion. Yate-born Skuse made 305 appearances for the Robins, scoring nine goals and registering ten assists.

He had a playing career that lasted 18-years and at City he was part of the side that finished runners-up in League One before going on to reach the Championship play-off final the next season.

Skuse left Bristol City for Ipswich Town after nine seasons and spent eight years at Portman Road. His career wound down in League Two with Colchester United, and in total he made 658 appearances in the game with 12 goals and 22 assists.

He did play for Colchester this season, featuring 29 times but a knee injury saw him miss the last two months of the season. His last game in professional football was a 2-0 defeat to Mansfield Town in which he made a substitute appearance.