Des Lyttle

Later career He began training with AFC Telford United and was linked to a longer stay at the club. However, he joined Northampton Town in November 2003. He spent the remainder of the 2003–04 season with Northampton, making a total of 27 appearances before leaving at the end of the season. His next move was to Conference National side Forest Green Rovers in September 2004, after rejecting fellow Conference club Burton Albion. Lyttle spent one season with Forest Green, making 36 appearances and scoring once in the FA Cup against AFC Bournemouth, but was released after not being offered a new contract at the end of the 2004–05 season.

Lyttle joined Conference North side Worcester City for his second spell for the club, where he was the club's captain. He spent two seasons with the club but was not offered a new contract by Worcester manager Andy Preece at the end of the 2006–07 season due to the club's budget having been reduced. He was named the club's "Players' Player of the Year" for both of his seasons at the club. In July 2007, it was confirmed that Lyttle had joined Conference North side Tamworth after a successful trial period. Lyttle was part of the Tamworth promotion squad that were promoted to the Conference National at the end of the 2008–09 season. He also scored a late equaliser against high-flying Luton Town in 2009–10, all but ending Luton's chances of automatic promotion.

Coaching career In May 2010, Lyttle confirmed that he had applied for the vacant AFC Telford United manager's job following the dismissal of Rob Smith; however, former England international winger Andy Sinton was instead appointed.

Tamworth Following the departure of Tamworth manager Gary Mills and assistant Darron Gee to York City on 13 October 2010, Lyttle was announced as caretaker player-manager. The following day Lyttle brought in former West Bromwich Albion and Tamworth teammate Bob Taylor as a coach to assist him. Despite failing to find victory in his five league games, he was appointed manager on a full-time basis on 30 November after leading the club into the second round of the FA Cup with wins over Grimsby Town and Crewe Alexandra. However, with just four games remaining until the end of the season, Lyttle resigned from the club. Lyttle left his position as he felt it was untenable after claiming the club's board tried to bring in former York manager Martin Foyle as an adviser for the remaining four games.

Hucknall Town Lyttle returned to football as manager of Hucknall Town, replacing Tommy Brookbanks at the Northern Premier League Division One South club on 13 October 2011. He steered the club to an 11th-place finish in 2011–12, before leaving 'on amicable terms' in May 2012 after the club decided to find a manager with a more in-depth knowledge of the local non-League scene.

York City Lyttle was appointed as first-team coach at newly promoted League Two side York on 3 July 2012, being reunited with Mills and Gee, the management team Lyttle played under at Tamworth. He left the club on 4 March 2013, two days after Mills was sacked as manager.

Thomas Telford School In 2013, Lyttle became the head football coach at Thomas Telford School in Telford, Shropshire. In 2015–16, the school's teams reached 13 national finals. His former pupils include Morgan Gibbs-White, who turned professional at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Career statistics Playing statistics