Meet the non-league boss out for revenge in the FA Cup – Andy Whing, a former school pal of Lee Carsley, is determined to prove a stellar playing career isn't an essential of a top coach

For a young English coach, making your mark is often a thankless task. Luckily for Andy Whing, he need only look at Lee Carsley for inspiration.

Whing will try to take his Solihull Moors side into the FA Cup third round on Sunday when they take on Bromley – the club who caused them heartbreak last season.

Bromley defeated Whing’s men in the National League play-off final to win promotion to League Two. To add insult to injury, Gateshead had the better of Moors in the FA Trophy Final. One fruitless trip to Wembley is bad enough. Two is just cruel.

Fortunately for Moors, Whing is the type to look on the bright side. A former midfielder for five clubs including Coventry and Brighton, Whing is quietly building a reputation as one of the most impressive coaches outside the Football League.

‘I’m good friends with Walsall coach Mat Sadler – the two of us and Lee Carsley went to the same school,’ Whing tells Mail Sport. ‘Lee was in the team at Coventry when I was coming through as a scholar.

‘I texted him after every game of his period in charge of England. It’s great to see someone who went to the same school making their way to the top of the game.

He is determined to prove that a stellar playing career is not necessary for a top coach

Whing is a former school friend of former England interim boss Lee Carsley, who he keeps in contact with

‘He is quite a quiet character but he gets the job done. A very down-to-earth guy who doesn’t really like the limelight. He sometimes comes to Solihull Moors games and I’ve spoken to him quite a few times when he has.’

Whing is one of many ambitious coaches who face a twin problem. They did not have the stellar playing careers to help them jump the queue for the big jobs, and nor have they had coaching roles at top European clubs to smooth the path.

Yet Whing’s achievements are no less impressive. He guided Banbury to the National League North for the first time in their history and kept them there before departing in 2023. The 40-year-old has maintained his eye-catching efforts with Moors.

‘I want to be a way better coach than I was a player,’ stresses Whing. ‘You’re still going to be competing against ex-England internationals or former Premier League stars.

‘Look at Ruud van Nistelrooy. He was at PSV Eindhoven for a season and was in charge of Manchester United for four games, but that was enough to make him favourite for all kinds of jobs.

‘But then you look at someone like Chris Davies at Birmingham. That might have seemed like a leftfield appointment to some people but it shows that candidates can get good jobs purely on the strength on their coaching ability.’

Gaining revenge over Bromley certainly wouldn’t do Whing’s credentials any harm, especially if he can land a high-profile tie in the third round. Perhaps even against one of those prominent ex-players.