Atay arrived from Norwich City in June 2026 as assistant head coach and brings over 18 years of coaching experience to Roots Hall.

His coaching career has included spells at Aston Villa, Ipswich Town and Norwich City, where he has gained extensive experience within youth development setups while learning from some of the UK’s most reputable coaches.

During his time at Ipswich Town, Atay worked alongside Head Coach Kieron Dyer in the club’s Under-18s, establishing a strong connection that sees the pair reunite at Roots Hall.