WHILE two of his former clubs go head to head at Roots Hall this weekend, Charlie MacDonald will be continuing the latest chapter of his footballing career managing Barking.

The former Southend United striker spent an incredible 23 years lining up in attack.

But, since the midway point of last season, MacDonald has concentrated solely on coaching.

And he is enjoying the ups and downs management can bring.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” said the 41-year-old.

“When it’s good it’s very good but when it’s bad it’s very frustrating and you’re pulling your hair out.

“I wouldn’t change it though.

“It’s fantastic and a great opportunity for me to dip my toe in the water and see where it goes.”

MacDonald’s playing career will certainly stand him in good stead where that is concerned.

And he felt well prepared to take on the role at Barking.

“The last five or six years I’ve been coaching young kids and then I became an academy director of a football college programme,” said MacDonald.

“In terms of coaching and taking sessions and games I was built up to go into it.

“It was just about taking it all into men’s football.”

And that opportunity came during the previous campaign.

“I was playing for Barking last year and had a couple of bad injuries quite close together,” explained MacDonald.

“While I was out injured the team wasn’t doing so great and the chairman decided to make a change in the managerial hot-seat.

“He came to me after that and asked if I would be willing to step in until he found someone else.

“I agreed to do that and it’s just stayed that way.”

But it proved to be a difficult introduction into management for MacDonald.

“It was quite up and down and the budget was already spent with the previous manager so it was quite tough,” said MacDonald.

“I managed to introduce some young boys into men’s football but it wasn’t a great end to the season being relegated having had three points deducted.

“If that hadn’t had happened we’d have stayed up but it is what it is and it’s a new season and new league now.”

And MacDonald, whose side are now part of the Essex Senior League, is setting his sights on promotion.

“The ambition is to try and get back up but it’s a tough league,” said MacDonald.

“I don’t know too much about the level if I’m honest and it’s been difficult to attract players to drop down.

“The budget is nowhere near what it was last year but it’s about getting players in who know the level and have played in it before.

“I have a couple of people in my management team who know the level and have managed in it so a lot of the insight on players comes through them.

“ It’s a good fit at the moment and the aim is to come straight back up.

“But there are three or four clubs in the league with really good budgets.

“Jamie Cureton’s Enfield are massive spenders and there are a couple of others so it will be tough but it’s definitely doable.”

MacDonald will continue to do all he can to push Barking towards promotion.

And he has been pleased by the response of his players.

“Having the playing background automatically means I gain players’ respect,” explained MacDonald.

“I was sharing a dressing room with them as a player at the start of last season but they took to everything well.

“They took on board the ideas and the different style and philosophy I wanted to instil.

“It’s been good and my career has stood me in good stead.

“It’s just about trying to get a little bit more consistency in the group now because that’s what I think is lacking at the moment.”

MacDonald found consistency throughout his own career which saw him hit the back of the net more than 150 times.

And he enjoyed his short stint with the Shrimpers.

“It was short-lived but it was enjoyable,” said MacDonald who scored five goals in 15 starts for Southend during the 2007/08 season.

“It was a great group of lads who I was around.

“I was disappointed not to get more game-time.

“It was less than I was expecting and that’s why I had to part company with the club so early.

“For me it was about playing and it was clear there were a lot of players the manager saw in front of me at the time.

“But I still look out for the club and know Kevin Maher is there now.

“I played alongside him and he’s a high profile former Southend player so I’m sure the fans are on his side and I’d expect them to have a good year this year.”

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