Peterhead striker Derek Lyle admits he came close to hanging up his boots before Blue Toon gaffer Jim McInally convinced him to take on a player/coach role.
The 40-year-old scored twice after the League One split at the end of last season and the forward says that was enough to convince him to prolong his playing career.
He said: “I hadn’t scored in the league with about three games to go, so I was thinking it was maybe time to chuck it, to retire.”
“The gaffer gave me three games near the end of the season and I got a couple of goals, which gave me a wee lift again and I felt good again.
“When he asked me to do a player/coach role, that made up my mind that I could still do it.”
The goal-grabber is currently embarking on his 23rd season as a professional and revealed how his preparations have changed with the COVID pandemic.
He added: “I usually do a lot of boxing, but with the COVID situation I was not able to get into the boxing gym so I’ve done a lot of climbing and hill running and that has kept me ticking over.”
