Andy Carroll gets unique new job alongside playing for Dagenham and Redbridge

Andy Carroll has been named as a player-assistant manager for Dagenham and Redbridge ahead of next season.

The ex-Premier League striker had been placed in interim charge of the club before they appointed a new boss earlier this month.

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But Carroll will remain as part of the coaching staff heading into the 2026/27 campaign, working with manager Lee Allinson.

That won’t stop him playing though, as he will continue as a key member of the National League South squad too.

He has played 12 times for Dagenham and Redbridge, scoring six goals and providing two assists since his competitive debut in September.

Speaking following his appointment, Carroll said: “Stepping into this role is a huge honour for me.

“There’s a real hunger around the club heading into the new season, and I’m looking forward to helping build something everyone can be proud of.”

Meanwhile, boss Allinson added: “Andy’s experience, leadership qualities and passion for the club made him the perfect choice for this role.

“He’s someone the players respect enormously, and I’m delighted to have him alongside me.”

Carroll is also a shareholder in Dagenham and Redbridge, alongside YouTube and TV personality KSI.

KSI became a co-owner of the non-league club in March, and set the lofty target of leading them to the Premier League.

When announcing that he was a shareholder, Carroll said ‘it was about more than just playing’ and now he’s taken on another role to prove that he wasn’t saying that for the sake of it.

Continuing coaching

Carroll previously said he wasn’t very keen on going into management, but after an interim spell in charge of the Daggers, his new player-assistant role seems to indicate that he may be enjoying time as a coach.

“Management was never something I wanted to do,” he told The Sun after being appointed as manager until the end of the season.

“But I always knew that if there was a chance for me to do it, I could.

“And it’s something that is exciting me at the minute. I’m really happy with the way it is going, but I never thought about it and it just fell on my lap.

“I want to play football. I’m still contracted here to play football and that’s what I want to do every single day.

“If that includes having the manager’s job alongside it, so be it.

“But being the boss permanently and not being able to play football isn’t something I’d do right now.”