Ex-Premier League manager Garry Monk brings house down at Belfast coaches course with Brendan Rodgers story

Former Swansea City player and manager Garry Monk used a CPD coaching course at Queen's University's Dub sporting complex on Saturday to share his footballing experiences and announce he's ready to get back into the game.

Monk, who captained the Welsh club as they moved through the four divisions to take their place in England's top flight, shared his thoughts with around 60 coaches, who included Coleraine's Oran Kearney, Dundela's Niall Currie and Ballyclare Comrades' Stephen Small.

“One day I was a player and the next in charge of, not only the team, but the whole club,” recalled a smiling Monk.

“Like most of you here I had already completed my UEFA B and A Licence by this stage in my career, and while that helped when it came to getting across my coaching ideas, it didn't fully prepare me for many other aspects of managing a Premier League club.

“Because I wanted to experience every aspect of the job I didn't delegate too many roles in the early stages, instead I thought I was showing leadership by arriving at the club at 7am and staying until 10pm, having had an input in just about every aspect of team affairs.”

The 43 year old's first game in charge of Swansea saw them defeat derby rivals Cardiff City 3-0 – on his watch they also finished second in their Europa League Group A behind Spanish club Valencia, having reached the last 32 before being knocked out of the competition by Rafa Benitez's Napoli on a 3-1 aggregate scoreline.

In his first season though the club survived being drawn into a relegation battle with a game to spare, Monk's efforts being rewarded with a three-year deal on May 7, 2014.

The subsequent 2014-15 season saw Monk's Swansea reach new highs when he oversaw the club's first ever