Keane surprised by news of Pilkington’s County move

The announcement came as a shock to the experienced keeper’s team-mates with Keane saying: “I’m very surprised. I don’t think anybody had a clue that it was even going on.

“I’m glad he took it. He’s got an opportunity, he is a great goalkeeper.

“Look at the age he’s playing to and he could easily be playing now.

“He has got a great chance to be the goalkeeping coach there and I’m very happy for him.”

While it will come as a blow to Town’s squad, Keane knows that number one Mark Tyler is more than up to the task.

He said: “We’ve got two goalies, who could easily play at, in my opinion, League One.

“If you lose one of them you are always going to miss him but luckily we’ve got another great goalkeeper in Mark Tyler and I’m sure we’ll be all right.”

Manager Gary Brabin, meanwhile, admitted that recently losing his place in the starting 11 may well have affected Pilkington’s decision.

On the 37-year-old stopper, Brabin added: “I think he always had aspirations of getting on the coaching side.

“He had come in and was enjoying his football and when he was left out again and Mark Tyler’s come back in, we knew he was disappointed.

“Coupled with the opportunity of him going there we all thought it was best all round for him to pursue his career in coaching.

“It was a very quick thing and it was something we felt was the right decision and we wish him all the best.”

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