Paul Steven Wanless (born 14 December 1973) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Oxford United, Lincoln City and Cambridge United.

Playing career

Wanless was born in Banbury. He began his career as a trainee at Oxford United, coming through the ranks to make a handful of first team appearances before moving to Lincoln City in 1995 on a free transfer. His chances with Lincoln were limited and he spent some time out on loan at non-league side

Woking Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in northwest Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'' and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settlement o ...

. Wanless then left Lincoln and moved to Cambridge United, where he made nearly 350 appearances in all competitions over a seven-year period and became club

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. A return to his first club, Oxford United, in 2003 saw him make more than 60 appearances in his last spell in the Football League. In 2005 Wanless then moved to

Conference National The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profes ...

side Forest Green Rovers where he was a pivotal part of Rovers' successful relegation battle, finishing the season as top scorer despite playing in midfield. As a result, he was voted supporters' player of the year. Wanless joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Oxford City as a player coach in June 2010.

Managerial career

Wanless had a short spell as

caretaker manager In association footballing terms, a caretaker manager or interim manager is somebody who takes temporary charge of the management of a football team, usually when the regular Manager (association football), manager is dismissed or leaves for a ...

of Forest Green in 2007 when Gary Owers left the club, during which he took control of two matches, both drawn. After spending a season as assistant to the new manager,

Jim Harvey James Harvey (born 2 May 1958) is a Northern Irish football manager and former player. Playing career As a player, Harvey began his career at Glenavon in his hometown of Lurgan, before joining Arsenal in 1977. He made only three Football L ...

, he left Forest Green in May 2007 and moved to the Welsh Premier League as player-coach at Llanelli. He was then made assistant manager, and coached the side in the Uefa Champions League in a qualifying match against the Latvian champions, FK Ventspils, but left the club after two years when manager

Andy Legg Andrew Legg (born 28 July 1966) is a Welsh football manager and former Wales international player. Born in Neath, he began his professional career with Swansea City after joining the club from local non-league football at the age of 22. He made ...

appointed

Steve Jenkins Stephen Robert Jenkins (born 16 July 1972) is a former Wales international footballer. A full back, he won 16 Welsh caps between 1995 and 2001. He began his career at Swansea, where he was a part of the team that won the 1994 Football League T ...

as his assistant.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wanless, Paul 1973 births Living people English men's footballers Sportspeople from Banbury Oxford United F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Lincoln City F.C. players Woking F.C. players Forest Green Rovers F.C. players Llanelli Town A.F.C. players English Football League players National League (English football) players Cymru Premier players English football managers Forest Green Rovers F.C. managers Oxford City F.C. players Men's association football midfielders