FORMER Southend United winger Mark Gower is relishing his role with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Gower, who made 243 appearances during a successful five year spell with the Shrimpers, is now a first team scout at Anfield.

And the 41-year-old is loving life with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“I spent the first six months proving myself but I gained their trust and did some good work,” said Gower.

“Now my opinion is valued at the club and it’s really good.

“We were on the verge of winning the League and the people I work for are absolutely first class.”

Gower covers Holland as part of Liverpool’s recruitment for their first team.

But the ex Blues star initially found it hard to cope with the end of his own playing career.

“It’s not a nice experience when you retire and I think a lot of people go through it,” said Gower.

“I never really listened to the advice.

“So many people said to me to get something in place and I just always thought well I’d be alright.

“I’d got a few quid in the bank and I thought I’d find something as I’ve got plenty of mates in the game.

“But it doesn’t work like that anymore.

“You have to bring something to the table.

“It’s not a job for mates industry anymore, you have to get your badges and do this and that.

“I basically ended up just sitting at home for 18 months.”

During that time Gower was offered roles in academies but nothing which he felt was suitable.

“Ricky Duncan offered me a job in the academy at Southend and a few other academies offered me roles but it didn’t fit,” said Gower.

“I’d had 18 months of doing nothing so I didn’t just need a job, I needed a job to earn money as well.”

As a result, Gower’s wife suggested he rang Brendan Rodgers who had bossed the midfielder at Swansea and was then the manager of Liverpool.

“My wife one day suggested I rang Brendan Rodgers as she said he always liked me,” said Gower.

“But I told her I couldn’t just ring him, I hadn’t even spoken to him for two years and he’s managing Liverpool!

“I’d been in the house doing nothing so I rang him and miraculously he answered.

“I had been psyching myself up to leave a message and I didn’t think he would answer.

“I said I had just done my B licence and explained how I hadn’t really ever wanted to be a coach or taken note of any sessions.

“I asked if I could go to Liverpool to watch them train to rejog my memory and he was different class.

“He let me stay in his house for three or four days and took me into Melwood every day.

“On the last day he said while you’re getting your badges sorted why don’t you do some scouting some on the side.

“You know what I like in a player and what to look for.

“He gave me a role and it quickly became full-time.

“I parked the coaching badges up and I’ve been a scout at Liverpool for the past five years now.”

Rodgers has since moved on from Liverpool and is now in charge of Leicester City but he remains in touch with Gower.

“Funnily enough I was having a barbecue the other day and I got a text from Brendan to tell me the Swansea play-off final was on the TV again,” said Gower.

“He didn’t have anything to do either and just wanted to let us know it was on!”