Jason Maher: From Step 5 boss to Norwich City scout

 

Jason Maher spent over 15 years in various coaching and management roles, before taking a new role as a scout for Norwich City.

 

It’s been quite the journey in football for Jason Maher.

Forced to retire at the age of just 26 while playing for Burnham Ramblers due to a severe leg break, he took the reigns at Long Melford in the Thurlow Nunn League after previously having a spell as assistant manager. From there, nine years at Saffron Walden Town followed, five years as assistant and four as manager, before a spell with Coggeshall Town and various other coaching roles.

With a win percentage of 58% as a manager, Maher has a proven track record in the dugout, however he has recently taken up a role as the Essex area scout for Championship side Norwich City, a job which has seen him embrace the responsibility, including watching more football.

“I’ve always enjoyed watching games”, Maher, 43, states. “When you’re not managing, you have got to try and fill the void, and this job came up at Norwich. I applied, if I’m honest I didn’t expect to get the job, but I went for a couple of rounds of interviews, and then I was offered the job.

“I do recruitment in construction for my day job, and there are a lot of similarities. You’ve got to be able to identify people who fit a particular profile. I’m really enjoying it and I’ve had some success in bringing players in.”

During his managerial days at various clubs around Essex, most notably a long period in charge of Saffron Walden, overseeing one of the club’s most successful periods in recent years, Maher developed a reputation for being fiercely competitive and passionate on the sidelines, but also with a tendency to build a squad of local talent in his image, which paved the way for success at Catons Lane.

“I’m grateful to Colin Wallington for giving me the opportunity to come to Saffron Walden after my time at Long Melford”, Maher reflects. “I still speak to him and Stuart [Wardley] now, and I’m thankful for both of them.

“We had a group of key, core players: Spike Bell, James Crane, James Solkhon, Craig Calver, Matt Snelling, Joe Murphy, Greg Strong, Jake Noble… I don’t want to miss anyone out… we’re all close and they helped make my time at Walden so special.

“We had a real togetherness, including with people off the pitch, especially in the promotion season, and the momentum built over the season. We should’ve won the league that season, we were the best team in the league.”

Finally, with a clearly successful management career to his name, does Maher now have his heart set on scouting and recruitment, or would he be open to a return in the dugout?

“I’ve got another year left on my deal at Norwich, and over the next few months I need to make that decision”, Maher explains. “At the moment, if the right job came up, and it’s somewhere I feel that I would add value, be it a coaching or a recruitment role, I would be open to it.

“While I enjoy what I’m doing right now, I’ll keep doing it, but I believe I can do a good job if I’m given a fair crack at the right job.”