Omer Riza: Return to Non-League management would have to be right

OMER RIZA would consider a return to Non-League management – but only if the opportunity was right for him.

The former Arsenal trainee spent 11 months as manager of Ryman North club Cheshunt before being dismissed just four weeks into last season.

The UEFA A Licence holder is now U16s coach at League Two side Leyton Orient after a spell as assistant manager at Heybridge Swifts.

Riza, who played in Turkey for Denizlispor and Trabzonspor as well as in Non-League for Histon, Boreham Wood and Chelmsford City, did pre-season with Harlow Town but now wants to focus on his coaching.

“I’m enjoying it at Leyton Orient,” he said. “My son has been playing at Orient for over a year now and I spoke to some of the coaches there who I played against for Boreham Wood and Chelmsford.

“I told them I was an A Licence coach and at the time I was managing at Cheshunt. The U16s role came up at the start of the year and I was asked if I wanted to go in.

“I held off to begin with because I was still looking for jobs in Non-League. It got to the point where I thought it was the right time and I’ve not regretted it.

“When I moved into Non-League, I wanted to change mentalities and how things are done. It was changing over time but the lack of professionalism you seem sometimes in Non-League is something I don’t miss.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t do what I wanted to do in Non-League with Cheshunt. They knew what my plan was; to play attractive football and progress the young players but that takes time.”

On returning to a Non-League dugout, Riza added: “If it was the right opportunity, the right club with the right people then I would definitely consider it. I won’t be stepping into Ryman North or South any more.

“I’d be looking at Conference North or South and above as it’s a bit more professional at those levels in my experience. I want to be a professional manager, I’ve got all of my qualifications and now I’m just working hard like I did as a player.”