Coaching Career
Liddle worked as a football coach at Darlington College from September 2005 up until June 2007. In February 2008, after Mick Tait left Darlington and Neil Maddison took over his role as reserve team coach, Liddle was hired by the club, taking over the role left by Maddison as youth team coach.
On 8 May 2009, it was revealed that Darlington's administrators, Brackenbury Clark and Company, in order to cut costs, had released the majority of the first-team squad as well as the club's coaching and administrative staff (including caretaker manager Martin Gray) from their contracts with immediate effect. This left Liddle and Maddison as joint caretaker managers.
With the appointment of Colin Todd as manager on 20 May, Liddle remained at the club as Darlington's head of youth. Todd departed on 26 September and Liddle took over as caretaker manager the following day, assisted by Maddison, until a replacement for Todd had been found. Liddle ruled himself out of taking the job full-time, saying he did not yet have the experience needed to run a club.
On 5 October, it was announced that former Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton had been appointed as the new permanent manager. In addition to Staunton, the club brought in former Sunderland coach Kevin Richardson as his assistant. The pair did not start their job roles until later that week, while Liddle finished his role as caretaker manager after the Football League Trophy tie against Leeds United on 6 October. On 21 March 2010, he joined Maddison as caretaker yet again after the sacking of Staunton, before Simon Davey was appointed manager on 1 April. He started a fourth period as caretaker on 25 October 2011 after the sacking of Mark Cooper the previous day. Darlington suffered financial difficulties during Liddles's time at the club and his contract was terminated on 16 January 2012, along with the rest of his playing squad.
After a last minute offer of funding to the club's administrators, the team's players were reinstated; Liddle re-registered as a player, taking his old No. 4 shirt. However, he didn't make an appearance.
Liddle joined Sunderland to become the clubs Professional Development Lead Coach, responsible for the under-18 side.
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