Harper Wants 'Out Field' Position!
Last updated : 17 September 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
But he says when he hangs up his goalkeeping gloves he wants to be s a top-flight referee!
He has already qualified to officiate at a lower level.
Harper: "If there was a fast-track system available for when I finish playing, I would consider it. "You look at the lists of referees in other squads, and ex-players are on there.
"It would benefit everybody if there was a fast-track system available to ex-footballers to become refs."
But playing in goal is his current priority.
Harper: "My best is very much still to come. I haven't played regular first-team football for such a long time that I needed last year to get up to speed.
"But goalkeepers tend to get better in their 30s, and I am well in there now.
"I am well down the queue at the minute for an England call up, but if I was to get in and hang on to the jersey and play week in and week out at a club like this, it would give me a great opportunity.
"Other lads are ahead of me games-wise, having been in the England team. But I have confidence in my own ability.
"When the manager named the team for Wigan, it was a big high for me. It was the biggest boost I'd had for a long time after three or four years in the wilderness.
"When we had the pre-season training camp in Austria, everyone had an individual 10 or 15-minute meeting with the manager. I said: 'If I get in and do the business, will I stay in?' He said yes.
"As a professional, that's all you can ask for. Last year when I was in there and then Shay got fit he was put straight back in the team. But that's the right managers have."