Malcolm Alker focused on Salford Reds' assistant role

Alker joined Salford in 1995

Former Salford City Reds captain Malcolm Alker said he is fully focused on his new role as assistant coach under Shaun McRae.

Alker, 31, has combined playing with a part-time coaching role this season but is now retiring from playing.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "I'm basically Shaun's full-time assistant now, looking after the boys and just doing the assistant's role."

"It would be nice to fulfil that dream of one day becoming head coach."

He spent his entire professional career with the Reds making over 350 appearances and said: "On game day they come first and I'm trying to do everything I can.

"I'm probably a little bit impatient at the minute there's a lot of miles done by myself in the dressing room."

Alker was not able to take to the field in Salford's last game of the season after picking up a injury in his last playing appearance for the club against Leeds.

"The day after I made the decision to stay at the club and be Shaun's assistant coach I actually found out I'd prolapsed a disk in my neck," he said.

"God works in mysterious ways and I decided to stay at the club and the day after I found out that had happened."