Walker calls it a day
Nottingham Forest centre back Des Walker has called time on his playing career after accepting a coaching role with the Division One club.
The former England defender will join Joe Kinnear's backroom staff on a one-year deal, thus bringing the curtain down on a career than spanned more than 20 years.
A former Forest trainee, Walker had a spell in Italy with Sampdoria before returning to England with Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1993.
The 38-year-old returned to The City Ground for the start of last season after taking a year out from playing, but with his current deal set to expire this summer, Walker has decided to move into coaching with the East Midlands outfit.
"It will give him a start on the coaching ladder and if he enjoys it and things go well, he could start thinking about a career in management in four or five years' time," Kinnear told the club's official website.
"It's very much up to him to develop things as he goes along and I'm delighted he's decided to take up the opportunity."
Meanwhile, Forest midfielder Eoin Jess has extended his contract for another year with the club.
The former Aberdeen, Coventry City and Bradford City man had a solid finish to the season and will look to pick up where he left off next season.
