LIFE MUST GO ON
McGhee insists SFA will prosper despite McClair’s shock exit
MARk McGHEE has admitted that the departure of Brian McClair from his key role in shaping the future of Scottish football was a surprise, but he remains confident the game can cope with ‘turbulence’ at the top.
McClair vacated his role as SFA performance director last week after just 13 months in the role, with the association’s chief executive Stewart Regan revealing that the former Manchester United head of youth had been uncomfortable with elements of the position such as selling ideas in boardrooms.
Scotland assistant coach McGhee said: ‘I was very surprised. We all were. It’s a real shame because I think Brian is a real forward thinker.
‘I think he’s different. I played with him at Celtic and had a great relationship with him, but I know that he is an unusual character.
‘Sometimes, people don’t quite understand him, but it’s a real shame because he had good ideas and I think they would have needed time to really be understood.
‘It clearly is turbulent when that’s happening, but what you’ve got to remember is that, below that, there is a lot that has stayed the same in terms of the people that are there.
‘All over the country, there are fantastic people doing a fantastic job at all those levels and they are all still there.
‘It’s the leadership that has changed and, now, the SFA have to make sure that the next guy is the right guy and can communicate with all of those good people I am talking about.
‘There’s already a lot of good things up and running including innovations that Brian has taken.
‘I’m optimistic that, nationally, people have the right motivation, people have the right idea about what they are trying to achieve.
‘People are trying to produce excellence that filters through from the clubs to the national team at all levels.’
McGhee’s main attention, though, is focused on tonight’s Betfred Cup Group F encounter with East Stirling and he is hoping winger Marvin Johnson maintains his good run of form.
He scored the opener in the 3-1 win over Annan with a strike some spectators compared to Marco van Basten’s classic goal for Holland against the Soviet Union in the finals of the 1988 European Championship.
With top scorer Louis Moult set to be out for two months following a groin operation today, McGhee wants Johnson to step up to the plate.
‘Marvin should get more goals,’ he claimed. ‘With his skill and his ability to strike the ball, he has the potential to get well into double figures.
‘I think he needs to be encouraged to get into the middle more often. His goal at Annan was a bit freakish, but it was also one of those goals which only players like Marvin would probably score.
‘There are freaky goals and then there are freaky goals which only certain players will score, if you know what I mean.
‘It was good to get our first competitive win. In the context of the group and losing the opening tie against Rangers, it was crucial. We were still a little jittery when we went in 1-1 at half-time, so it was very pleasing that we pushed on and didn’t react badly to losing a goal just before the break.
‘It’s easy to say that we should be beating Annan and, of course, we should but you still need to go and do it.’
Striker Scott McDonald, who rejected a return to Australia last week, missed out at the weekend, but should feature tonight.