Irwin then moved into coaching, initially with Southend United, before moving to Sheffield Wednesday where he also served as assistant manager, and was on the staff when Wednesday won the 1935 FA Cup Final. Irwin returned to Crystal Palace, as coach, in 1937 before being appointed manager in 1939. He remained with Palace during the years of wartime football winning regional league titles in 1940, 1941 and 1946. However the first post-war season (1946–7) resulted in a disappointing eighteenth place in the Third Division South and Irwin resigned thereafter. He remained at Crystal Palace as a scout before being appointed manager of Darlington in 1950, where he remained for two seasons.