KIERAN Charnock was once a full-time footballer with an agent to do the contract negotiations.

Now he’s a part-time footballer with a full-time job and doing his own deals - and he couldn’t be happier.

The defender began his career at Wigan Athletic, with subsequent spells at Northwich Victoria, Peterborough United, Accrington Stanley, Torquay, Macclesfield and most recently Chester City, to name a few.

But now he is home, with hometown club Chorley, as he bids to help the Magpies reach the Vanarama National League while starting a new life as a physio.

“I finished last season at Chester and I had just finished a degree and qualified and knew I was looking for a full-time job so I was looking at a part-time club,” Charnock explained.

“I rang Garry Flitcroft and asked if he would be interested. He said he was, and it went from there.

“I had an agent when I was younger and in the league, but over the last few years I’ve looked after myself and I was quite happy to do it.

“I’ve had deals in the past where I’ve earned them and agents have maybe taken the fee and maybe not warranted it, so I was happy to do it myself.

“I think managers do like it when players make contact themselves. They probably get countless agents ringing them all the time so it probably makes a refreshing change.”

What Charnock had not bargained for was a change of management, with the news that Flitcroft was stepping down, to be replaced by assistant Matt Jansen, with immediate effect.

The players were told together before Thursday night’s first pre-season training session.

While it came as a shock to the 30-year-old, it has not shaken his focus to help Chorley progress and move a step closer to the Football League, after they missed out on promotion from Conference North in cruel fashion in last season’s play-off final.

“It was disappointing for them last season – to be 2-0 up at half time then lose a couple of lads through injury and Guiseley took advantage,” said the 6ft 1ins centre-half.

“Garry said he thinks we can do it this year with a couple of additions and hopefully we can.

“He’s been building successful teams over the last few years so I’m going to have to work my socks off to get into the team and hopefully contribute to a team that can win promotion.

“It was a shock on Thursday, but Garry needs to do what’s best for himself and I wish him all the best.

“I’m fully committed to Chorley FC, Matt Jansen and the coaching staff and will be doing my best to impress in pre-season.”

But when he gets to the Victory Park gates there will not be a dual role for the Salford University alumni. He is Kieran Charnock the footballer.

“Chorley have a physio and they’ve got links with other clubs,” he said.

“I’m a new graduate and I’m continuing my learning so any experience I can get is good. But the main thing with Chorley is football.

“It’s a short career. I’m not earning the contracts I used to be on or the wage I used to be on so I definitely wanted get something full-time, and switch to part-time football.

“At Chester we weren’t full-time but we trained three mornings a week. It was a big commitment but it fit in quite nicely with my studies.

“I had a good season last year and enjoyed it there.

“But from Christmas on, knowing I was finishing my degree I was applying for jobs. I knew which route I wanted to take.”

Charnock had two interviews and two job offers.

“I did quite well,” he laughed. “I had offers for various other roles as well, doing private work, but I decided to go into the NHS to continue my development, so I’m working for Wigan NHS in the community, treating people in their homes.

“I did a lot of that while I was at university. Being out and about you have that variety.”

Charnock’s new, full-time career change has been a while in the planning.

It might have happened sooner but for his big break with Peterborough.

He had begun thinking about a ‘Plan B’ when he was released from his scholarship with Wigan Athletic, but went on to play regularly, and well, for non-league Northwich Victoria.

It led to him representing the England C team, earning 11 caps, and attracting interest from the other clubs at the end of each season. But nothing came to fruition until 2007.

“I think if I had carried on at that level the way it was any longer I may have just decided to get a full-time job and maybe football would take a backward step. I had a lot of commitments,” he said.

“But I managed to earn a move back into the Football League.”

He has one eye on getting back there, in the future.

For now, though, he wants to keep playing and combine his two careers.