Houston tips Gem to shine
New Scotland Under 21s assistant manager Peter Houston insists Scot Gemmill is destined to be a top boss and is determined to help him reach the top.
The former Falkirk and Dundee United manager was axed by the Bairns earlier this season.
But he started his new role on Friday with the young Scots in Andorra and is thri l led to be back in international football.
Houston was Craig Levein’s No. 2 for their ill-fated national side spell and took his Under-21s job af ter Peter Grant was promoted to Alex McLeish’s backroom team.
Gemmill has impressed Houston, despite the dismal 1-1 draw with Andorra, and always knew he would be a top coach from their days together at Leicester City.
He said: “Scot is someone I’ve got a lot of time for. He will be a club manager when he chooses to do that.
“He has come through the coaching path where he has been getting young teams qualifying for things.
“Working with him this week he’s knowledgeable.
“But I knew that anyway as I worked with Scot at Leicester when Craig Levein and I were there.
“He can be strong, he knows what he wants and he explains it very well. I’m here to assist him.
Houston, who will turn 60 in a few months, insists he’s not interested in managing again and chose the Scots job for the honour.
He said: “I like the role. I’m not here to be the main man. I’ll do bits and bobs and we’ll bounce ideas off each other.
“I want to make sure people know I’m the No.2. I don’t want to be the No.1.
“It’s an honour. I’ve never had a big ego.
“As long as I’m involved with the Under-21s I will go and watch matches for petrol money.
“I wouldn’t be bothered if I didn’t get paid.
“It’s just great for me to be back in among the players.”