MARK Patterson, the former Wanderers and Bury midfield player, is backing the PFA in their current dispute over TV cash.

Patterson, who this week shelved his retirement plans to take up a player-coaching role with Conference strugglers Scarborough, is one of the players who benefited from the help given by the players' union.

"When I finished there were 400 players kicked out of football, either injured or for just not being good enough and these are the people the PFA help.

"I found it difficult to adjust when I retired and the PFA were a great help to me."

"They helped me get my coaching badges - I have the UEFA B and am on my way to getting the UEFA A - and helping me with my future education.

"And it's nice to know for me that two, three or four years down the line if I need an operation because of the wear and tear of my football career, they will help me.

"When we went out there playing, we went out to entertain the crowd which I hope I did and I am sure no one begrudges players like myself the chance to be looked after through the union.

"The strike is not about the top players, but the old players and the recent players who are on normal wages. It is about players like me."

Patterson is looking for a new lease of life on the coaching side of the game.

He had thought of packing the game in at the end of this season after a year controlling the midfield with UniBond First Division side Rossendale United. But he has now stepped back into full-time football at the McCain Stadium.

"I thought I would do a season with Rossendale and then give up. I'm 36 knocking on 37 and I wasn't sure," he said.

"But Rossendale gave me my football appetite back and I will carry on playing this season at Scarborough and then get a pre season in and see how it goes."

Patterson got the phone call from former Sheffield United team-mate Russell Slade after Slade was appointed to the managerial hot seat at Scarborough with the task of saving the bottom side from relegation.

"I couldn't believe it when he rung me. I had always said I wouldn't leave Rossendale for another club to play football but I would for a coaching position and the manager Jim McCluskie and chairman Andrew Connolly understood that."

While playing for Rossendale this season, Mark has been earning a wage working for a Darwen firm that makes ornate plastic products.

"I've been working for a few months and it has been good. I've learnt quite a lot and it is good to get a trade behind you. You never know when you are going to need it.

"But I've had to pack in now to take over the Scarborough job."

"It's ironic really that Colin Greenall and Brendan O'Connell have just joined Rossendale after losing their coaching jobs at Wigan and I have just got one.

"It's a merry-go-round. They are keeping their fitness until a job comes up for them and I am sure it will."

Since leaving football, Mark has done some radio work, played at the likes of Accrington Stanley and coached at Bolton Wanderers Academy.

He was itching to get into full-time coaching when offered the chance to play at newly promoted Rossendale last summer.

"I have had a great time there and it has been brilliant. They are a great bunch of lads and you can see why they got promoted last season.

"I had a good talk with Jim (the manager) this week. In all fairness when I started playing for them, I wasn't sure what to expect.

"But after one training session, I knew I was going to enjoy it. They have limited resources with training - they can only train once a week - but it is done as professionally as possible.

"The coaching methods are good, they are a superb bunch of lads, they have a good manager and they have a fantastic chairman backing them.

"I had lost my appetite a bit after what happened at Accrington Stanley, where I didn't fit into their style of play, but I got the football bug again with Rossendale."

And Mark will be taking boundless enthusiasm and experience with him as he aims to make an impression again over in Yorkshire.

"We are rock bottom at the moment - but we will survive."