Get the latest Swans news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

It will probably come as a surprise to no one, but Swansea City legend Alan Tate has declared: ‘I want to be a gaffer!’

The 33-year-old shocked everyone this summer when, 13 years after first playing for the Swans, he decided to move on and turned down a move to the Football League to instead sign an 18-month contract at Welsh Premier League outfit, Port Talbot.

Tate said his decision to drop to the Welsh Premier was very much to do with the fact he now has a young family settled in the Swansea area.

But there is also another reason, Tate as a player was never afraid to voice an opinion or give ‘guidance’ to a teammate and now he is determined to take the next step and make the move to the dug-out to work as a manager.

And with Port Talbot now helping him get his Uefa A-licence, it might not be long before Tate follows in the footsteps of his good friend Garry Monk who is just three years older and in charge of the Swans in the Premier League.

Related:What became of the Swansea City summer 'transfer targets'... and could they sign any of them in January?

“You never know what’s around the corner, but I’ve signed for a year and a half at Port Talbot, there’s an option for another year in there so I am thinking of the long-term. While I’m there, we’ve agreed that the club’s going to help me get my UEFA A-license.

“That’s the aim. I’m not getting any younger, the next step after playing is going into the media, drop out of the game or go into coaching. I’ve always fancied myself as a manager, so that’s the way I want to go.”

In a career that saw him make nearly 400 appearances in the Football League and Premier League, despite loan spells at the likes of Leeds, Aberdeen and Crewe last season, Tate’s time in the game was dominated by his years at Swansea.

Related:Swansea City star Andre Ayew set to play for Ghana tomorrow despite fears over his fitness

As his time at the club he cherished came to an end, many expected Tate to have to drop down a few divisions to finish his playing days.

But despite interest from Football League clubs, including his hometown club of Hartlepool, the no-nonsense defender raised a few eyebrows in the game as he pledged his future to the Welsh Premier League with Port Talbot.

Tate himself insists the move was not a difficult one to make and something he had been considering for a while.

“It’s been on the cards for a while to be honest, I first spoke to the club in the back of August to the beginning of September,” said Tate.

“I was enjoying not doing much to be honest, especially after being in the game for so long. But, I gradually wanted to get back into it, went to a few Football League clubs, I didn’t really fancy all the travelling and living away from Swansea, where I’ve got my little boy down here.

“Even back home with Hartlepool, I spoke to them and we half-agreed things, but then the goal posts were moved a little bit so I thought it’s not going to be for me.

“So I decided to come down to Port Talbot. I spoke the manager, I spoke to Chief Executive and we managed to get a deal done that was suitable for both of us.”

Related:5 fundamental problems Swansea City boss Garry Monk must solve ahead of the biggest match of his managerial career

With 14 games played so far this season Port Talbot are currently ninth in the Welsh Premier League, three points above the bottom two,.

As he arrives at the club, Tate is not promising any miracles, but he admits he is determined to eventually leave the club in a better state than when he arrived.

“It’s just to try and improve things, it’s always been the same for me wherever I’ve gone,” added Tate.

“Obviously it was always with Swansea, but with moving up the leagues it was always about improving myself and improving the club. Then it was the same when I went out on loan. At Crewe last year, it was about making an impact and having that aim of keeping them in League One. That’s probably up there with one of my best achievement, helping them stay in League One.

“If I can help Port Talbot improve things on the field and off the field over the next year, year and a half, then that’s my job done really. It’s just another challenge really. It’s another league, obviously it’s not as good as the leagues I have played in, but it’s still a challenge and one that you’ve got to take. It’s all about winning games in football, no matter where you go, it will always be about winning games.”

Related:Wales skipper Ashley Williams says nothing will stop him from turning out for his country - even in friendlies