Be prepared for life outside the game

I read the comments made by Stephen O’Donnell (above) on the BBC about his current situation after leaving Kilmarnock, where he’d rejected a new deal.

The Scotland fullback said some of his options were on hold for the moment as clubs assess their budgets in the wake of the shutdown.

I feel for guys like Stephen because that kind of uncertainty is tough. I was a big one for stability and not just in football.

I like to know what I’m doing and hate the thought of jumping around different jobs.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t leave Dundee when I was younger when I had opportunities to leave.

Paul Paton said recently that his old Dundee United team-mate Stuart Armstrong, who was doing a law degree during his time at Tannadice, should be a role model for young players and he’s right.

I regret not having my eye on another career earlier on.

You can have college courses and advice from various people but the most important thing is that players buy into it.

Adapting to life in another job can be hard. But I say to a lot of people, I started at Dundee after leaving school and straight away I was in at the deep end – cleaning boots, washing and drying kits, cleaning the stands and the home and away dressing-rooms.

This wasn’t just doing it for the sake of it. You had to do it properly or you’d be doing it again. That was drummed into you. We need to get back to that. Doing these jobs put me in a decent position for working in the real world further down the line.