Coyne a natural in new role

Former Socceroo Chris Coyne is forging a reputation in coaching circles after his barnstorming start to the Western Australian Premier Division season.

Former Socceroo Chris Coyne is fast forging a reputation for himself in coaching circles after his barnstorming start to the Western Australian Premier Division season with Bayswater City.

Coyne is unbeaten in his first seven matches in charge of Bayswater, and his side sit six points clear of second-placed Sorrento.

The 34-year-old centre-back ruptured his Achilles tendon playing for Perth Glory in November 2011, and despite his best efforts he has been unable to get back on the paddock.

Although not willing to write off his playing career just yet, Coyne conceded it is unlikely he will return to the pitch.

But as the maxim goes, when one door closes another opens - and Coyne's on-field misfortune has given him a new lease on life as a coach, a role he has been preparing for since leaving Perth as a 16-year-old to sign with West Ham.

"It's something I've always been very interested in, even as a player I'd take notes," Coyne said.

"If I enjoyed a training session I'd go home and just jot it down on a piece of paper.

"I've always studied the game and liked watching and analysing games."

Despite the feeling that a coaching career was on the cards, Coyne said the call from Bayswater - archrivals of his own boyhood team Perth Soccer Club - was completely unexpected.

"It was a funny one, I just got a phone call from the club asking if I'd be interested, obviously to help out down there while I was injured," he said. "It just came out of nowhere to be honest."

Coyne is a firm believer in giving youth a chance, and said he is determined to develop young talent while at Bayswater.

"I blooded a 17-year-old goalkeeper last weekend," he said.

"I've got a couple of young boys in the reserves that are almost ready to step in.

"I want to head towards youth, I think if I hadn't got my opportunity at a young age I might not have been fortunate enough to have the career I had."

And Coyne is determined to bring as professional approach as possible to his new team.

"I've brought in ECU (Edith Cowan University) to come in and code the games for me so I can sit and watch them and analyse them with the players on Tuesdays," he said.

"(I'm) just trying to bring a different level of professionalism to the State League, and educate myself while I'm doing it.

"Most of the players at the level I'm coaching at wouldn't have been subjected to that scope of analysis."

Coyne said he has learned from all his coaches, but rates his former West Ham boss Harry Redknapp, and Olyroos coaches Les Scheinflug and Raul Blanco as among the finest he has worked with.

"I think you take a little bit from all of them," he said.

"I was 16, 17 when I went over to England. Harry Redknapp - I thought he was a bit of a hard taskmaster, but when you're older you obviously appreciate people for what they do.

"Les Scheinflug and Raul Blanco with the Olyroos and the Joeys were massive factors for me, even Joe Kinnear (former Luton boss) who was part of the Crazy Gang at Wimbledon - you take the little bits of what you enjoy from them and adapt it for your own individual role."