Kris can make a change

Kris Boyd’s bravery in the penalty box has helped him break records.

But sports psychologist Donald MacNaughton has saluted his courage in setting up his own mental health charity.

The Kilmarnock star has set up The Kris Boyd Charity in honour of his brother Scott who took his own life under a year ago.

Boyd hopes some good can come from the pain he and his family suffered and Mac Na u g ht on w a s delighted when the striker asked him to help.

He said: “Kris is brave and honest and that is his great strength and that might have people listening.

“I love that about Kris. His profile means someone will think ‘ There’s Kris Boyd saying that, maybe I’ll talk to someone about it.’”

MacNaughton worked with Inverness when they won promotion to the top flight for the first time under John Robertson.

As well as now helping out at Hampden he works for various football academies, including Rangers and Aberdeen, and admits there are issues in the game.

But MacNaughton has seen changes over the years and said: “Football is doing a lot to address mental health issues.

“The challenge they have is the percept ion that mentioning anything will have an effect on how the manager thinks.

“Football clubs are doing a really good job of providing a holistic development for players and I’ve noticed a colossal difference.

“To be a modern coach you can’t just coach the technical side – you have to have an awareness of the whole person.

“Emotional intelligence is really important to deal with different people in different situations. That is as appropr iate as the mental health area – to have the courage to listen to someone in a certain way.”