BREAKING: Ex Birmingham City skipper makes career swap

Troy Deeney, who retired from football last year, is now playing pool.

The former Birmingham City captain has received a wildcard entry into next month’s UK Open Pool Championship.

Deeney joined Forest Green Rovers after leaving the Blues at the end of last season. The 35-year-old scored four goals in 16 League Two games before taking over as manager in December.

Deeney was fired just shy of four weeks into his role as Forest Green manager after failing to win six matches. He has returned to our television screens to comment on matches and will make his debut in a different sport on May 7.

“Isn’t it something different?” “Something entirely new,” Deeney told Sky Sports. “I just enjoy pushing the boundaries a little bit and seeing how things go.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for athletes in whatever field. To perform what they do requires hours and years of effort and dedication, so why not try my hand at it when the occasion arises?

“The goal is to go there without embarrassing myself, but also to be modest and vulnerable enough to realize these guys have been doing it for years. You can’t expect to defeat these players after a few months of actual training and years of strange playing, often with a beer in hand.

“But I know that as soon as I become involved in anything, my competitive edge will shine through. I’ll give it a decent shot. My ultimate goal for this is to move the sport ahead as much as possible.”