Gallagher says Barrow sacking will not define him

Paul Gallagher insists his brief stint as Barrow head coach will not define him as a manager.

He was sacked after 40 days in charge at the start of the year, losing all five matches.

The former Blackburn and Preston striker says he was right to accept his first manager's job offer and has learned from the experience.

"I always look at myself first," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "Could I have done better? It was my first time, obviously being a head coach.

"There's a lot to learn from, I'm still learning all the time. I did lean on experienced managers that I've worked with, asking them questions.

"So, yeah, it's something that won't define who I will be as a head coach. It's a lot of learning and a lot of things to take away from it."

Gallagher, 41, had spells as an assistant at Preston North End, Stoke City and, most recently, Leyton Orient and says he could have turned Barrow round given more time.

Instead, they finished bottom of League Two and were relegated from the English Football League (EFL), and Gallagher said: "To just get five games was tough.

"I do believe, if given the time, I think we would have started to win games. And not only just win one and paper over the cracks. I mean win three, four or five and really build on it.

"Walking away, I knew we'd given everything and there's a lot to learn from it. It's something I have no regrets over."