Liam Ridgewell’s post-retirement plan was simple: four months of relaxing with his family, “as much golf as possible” and meetings with the mentors who helped shape his successful 18-year career.



This period between February and June was supposed to be the calm before the storm. In the summer, Ridgewell was ready for a crack at his coaching badges and this week, he was due to meet up with a number of Premier League bosses to pick their brains on life in the hot seat and learn more about what goes into the weekly training ground routine.



“I want to manage,” he tells The Athletic. “I’m prepared to start right at the bottom and I know it will be hectic when things get going. I’m ready to be on YTS (Youth Training Scheme) all over again!”



The coronavirus crisis has temporarily postponed those plans until further notice. Fortunately for the former defender, as unsettling as it is in the Ridgewell household...