It was the end of August last year when Jack Cork realised something had to give.
Having left Burnley in the summer after seven seasons following a frustrating 2023-24 campaign that saw him appear just six times as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, Cork had ambitions to play on.
Nothing was materialising, but he had a back-up plan, having already picked up his Uefa B coaching licence. And when his former club came calling with the opportunity to work as the assistant manager of the Under 21s, Cork jumped at the chance.