Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Trio join forces with McLeish
JAMES McFadden and Peter Grant have been appointed as members of Alex McLeish’s new-look Scotland coaching set-up.
Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods will also join the backroom staff.
The three coaches have been handed t wo-year contracts ahead of McLeish’s first match i n charge against Costa Rica on March 23.
Former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Grant, who will continue working as a youth coach at Fulham, has worked with McLeish at the likes of Birmingham, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Wo o d s w a s a m o n g McLeish’s first signings as a manager when he took over at Motherwell in 1994 while McFadden was also on the Fir Park books as a young player during his future Scotland manager’s spell in charge.
The 34-year-old, whose winning goal against France in Paris under McLeish was the highlight of an impressive 48-cap international career, was Motherwell assistant manager last season before embarking on a short playing stint with Queen of the South.
McLeish said: “I am delighted to welcome Peter, James and Stevie to the Scotland coaching staff and I’m relishing the prospect of working with them on the training ground.
“The three offer a complementary blend of experience, enthusiasm and success — both as players and as coaches — and are fully aware of the responsibility that comes with being part of t he national team staff.
“James brings a youthful enthusiasm to the coaching team but beyond that he offers a relatable figure for the players to look up to.
“He bore the hopes of a nation on his shoulders for many years.”