Ex-Saints captain Barry will help young players get to the top
CRAIG RITCHIE
Former St Mirren skipper Barry McLaughlin has launched his own football agency in a bid to give young footballers the guidance he never had.
McLaughlin, who starred for the Love Street side for a decade between 1992 and 2002, heads up Aidablo Sports Management, which will be aimed at the youth market to help prospects make the step into senior football.
The agency has already brokered deals for Cameron Crooks and David McNair to join Partick Thistle, while fellow client Liam Houston signed for Celtic as recently as last week.
McLaughlin, who also enjoyed spells at Kilmarnock and Ayr United, hopes his insight into the game will help others progress.
He told Express Sport: “There is a lot of talent in Scottish football – I know that because I came through the youth systems.
“But you can have all the ability in the world, but without the right guidance you can only get so far.
“I’ve seen examples of it, and everyone has stories of guys they played with that didn’t make it for one reason or another.
“I believe that my experience in the game and my first- hand knowledge of the sort of things that go on can help guys coming through.
“I played every single position apart from goalkeeper for St Mirren, I know what it is all about.
“And I also know that people are trying to give you advice left, right and centre – 99 per cent of it is nonsense.
“You have got to get yourself the right advice.
“You have got to be level headed and know you are only as good as your last game.
“There are lots of great players coming through, and if I can help them in any way possible then brilliant.
“We will be starting off focusing on the youth market, and we are already delighted to welcome the guys we have, Cameron, David and Liam onboard.”
McLaughlin, 45, admits he could have used some advice of his own when he was making his way through the ranks at the Buddies.
Having missed out on a spot in the Scotland squad at the U16 World Championship, McLaughlin revealed that he fell away from his football career – when he should have in fact got his
head down.
He reflects now that if he had someone there to keep him on track then his career could have gone in a different direction.
He explained: “At the age of 16, 17, 18, it is all about keeping your head down and focusing on your game.
But it’s like anything else, there are distractions that can take you away from the game.
“When I was a kid coming through I went into it completely blind. I didn’t have the advantage of leaning on anybody for advice.
“I felt I should have been in that Scotland squad for the 1989 Championships but I wasn’t selected. I was scunnered about the whole thing and I fell away from football at the time and as it turned out I ended up not going full- time with St Mirren until I was 21.
“I missed the opportunity of playing for the likes of Scotland’s under-21 side as a result and that had a negative effect on my career at times.
“David Byrne recommended me to Tottenham when he was there, but because I had no international experience I was overlooked for someone else.
“It turns out I would have been brought in to push Sol Campbell, who was coming through the youth system at the time.
“If someone had told me to knuckle down after missing out on Scotland then who knows where my career could have went.
“You learn from these experiences, and as a result I know that players need advice about elements both on and off the park.
“I want to give the guidance that I never received.”
Aidablo can be contacted across social media.