Paul cut his teeth in management at Northern Alliance club Seaton Deleval before moving on to Walker Central where he led the club to two championship wins and a number of cup wins, his success at Walker was unnoticed by local Northern league clubs and Paul was duely appointed manager of West Allotment Celtic who were languishing near the bottom of the first division at the time. Paul guided the club to a mid-table finish. Adifference of opinion with the committee at Celtic resulted in Paul resigning. After a number of months without a club Paul was appointed to the Hebburn Town job after the resignation of Robbie Marsden.