Following his retirement in 1997, Coton returned to Manchester United as the clubs goalkeeping coach where he remained until an injury put an end to a ten-year coaching career, he has since spent time as a players' agent before working in scouting notably for Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa.

Coton started his professional career at Birmingham City in 1978, having signed from Mile Oak Rovers the previous year.

[6] Birmingham were relegated from the First Division at the end of the next season, but Coton found his way back into the top flight with a transfer to Watford, for a sum of £300,000.

[citation needed] Before the start of the 1990–91 season, Coton was bought for just under £1 million by Manchester City manager Howard Kendall.

In his short time at Old Trafford he was part of the squad that won the FA Cup and the Premier League title.

[13] He was capped by England B in February 1992 in a 3–0 win against France B – David Seaman played the first half and Coton the second[14] – but withdrew through injury from senior friendlies against Czechoslovakia in March[15] and Hungary in May.

He had had two operations in four months to correct his ongoing knee problems, but after discussions with his surgeon and the Manchester United medical staff, they agreed that retirement was the best option.