had only been able to field two central defenders (Gerard Wiekens and Richard Jobson) for most of the season. His impact on the team was immediate, his goals earning City numerous victories and ultimately promotion. As City arrived in the Premiership Prior found his first team opportunities limited as the then City manager, Joe Royle, bought Steve Howey, Richard Dunne and Paul Ritchie, while Andy Morrison also returned from his lengthy injury. Thus, Prior moved to Cardiff City for a £700,000 fee. His three-year stint at Ninian Park saw him make 81 league appearances, scoring two goals. Prior was released by Cardiff and returned to the club where he began his career, Southend United, in July 2004. In his first two seasons back at Roots Hall, the team won consecutive promotions. Coaching career After retiring from football, Prior moved to Australia and became a football analyst for Fox Sports Australia. He also coached a number of teams at Sydney Grammar School and was the head coach at Mosman Football Club in 2007 and 2008, leading a significant improvement in its coaching capabilities. In December 2008, A-League club Newcastle Jets announced they had signed the 37-year-old Prior for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. On 1 January 2011, he was confirmed as assistant head coach of the Matildas, assistant to Tom Sermanni. In 2016, he signed a two-year contract with the Thailand women's national team and was hailed for bringing through major changes in the team's tactical awareness and competitiveness. In July 2019, he joined Thai League 1 club Port F.C. as Technical Director. After Prior's arrival, Port won five of their next six matches and won the 2019 Thai FA Cup, defeating Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 1–0 in the final. Prior returned to Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic and commenced coaching duties with NSW NPL club APIA Leichhardt FC's women's team in September 2020. By February 2023 he was also manager of the Papua New Guinea's women's team. Honours Leicester City League Cup: 1996–97 Cardiff City Football League Division Two play-off: 2002–03 FAW Premier Cup: 2001–02 References External links Career details on Flown from the Nest website Spencer Prior Interview 1971 births Living people English footballers Premier League players Norwich City F.C. players Leicester City F.C. players Derby County F.C. players Manchester City F.C. players Cardiff City F.C. players Southend United F.C. players Newcastle Jets FC players Manly United FC