Kerr happy to learn from First Minister’s experience

SCOTLAND head coach Shelley Kerr says she takes every opportunity to ask Nicola Sturgeon for advice about leadership, but admits she wouldn’t want to swap jobs with the First Minister.

Both were at Hampden Park yesterday for an announcement that will allow the domestic players in Kerr’s squad to train full time for next year’s World Cup in France. Sturgeon is the Scotland women’s team patron and the side will make their first appearance in the finals next June.

“We have a really good relationship,” Kerr said. “I’ve got huge admiration for her as a female leader and she’s somebody I look up to in terms of these qualities.

“We always talk about developing leaders within our group, and she epitomises that. I think she is a great role model. She has been very supportive, not just to me and the players, but to the national team in general.

“A lot of things are done on the radar, such as this announcement, but there are a lot of things which go under it as well. Any time I’m in contact with her I ask about leadership – even if it is one question, because you can always learn from someone who is in the spotlight so much.”

When questioned if she would be interested in doing Sturgeon’s job, Kerr laughed and replied: “No. Being the manager of a national team is hard enough.”

The majority of the players in the Scotland squad will not be affected by yesterday’s £80,000 Scottish government funding announcement as 15 play professionally in England, two in Sweden, and one in Italy. Team captain Rachel Corsie is with Utah Royals the United States.

The financial aid, which starts in January, is aimed at those players, particularly with Scottish champions Glasgow City and Hibernian, who have to juggle full-time day jobs with their football careers.

“The players have to get rest and recovery,” Kerr said. “What we’ve been asking them to do is get up at 6am to go to the gym, go to work, and then train with their clubs at night.

“This announcement is huge for us. It gives the players the opportunity to prepare as best as possible.”

The World Cup draw takes place in Paris on December 8.