MACKAY IN HIS OWN WORDS

On meeting the media: “It’s good the gentlemen and ladies who don’t know me from my time 19 years ago in Scotland get to know me again. That’s important. Communication is a big thing.” On coming back to Scotland: “I am coming back home again. I was proud as a man can be when I pulled on a Scotland jersey – the oldest new cap in 40 years at the age of 32.” On the challenge ahead: “It’s a huge task when you are talking about dealing with 42 clubs and seven regional academies and Under 16s, 17s, 19s and 21s and national teams.

“And you are dealing with coach mentoring and education because that is also something you need to talk about. And you are dealing with pride – putting pride back in the younger ones coming through. It is not about me sitting in an ivory tower, it is about me going out there and building relationships. I think that’s a better way of doing things.” On critics: “I will say to all stakeholders – business people, kids, MSPS, reporters, whoever it may be: ‘My door is open’. People can make their judgment on me. [But] If people come and sit in front of you and talk to you for half an hour or an hour they go away and they can make a more reasoned judgment.” On voluntarily attending diversity education programmes: “I was not forced. No one forced me to do anything like that. I was cleared [of sending discriminatory texts] by the FA. But I went on [the courses] and learned to the point I am now able to talk about it. A lot of people were surprised at what [phrases] used to be acceptable and what is not acceptable anymore.” On lessons learned: “There are a lot of good people in football. A lot of good people in my life. But, also, you need to look at yourself. You need to think hard about how you can keep learning from different situations.” On support in football circles: “I worked with Brendan [Rodgers] and worked with Mark [Warburton]. Derek Mcinnes is another I know because we did our Pro Licence together.

“People that actually know me day to day – some of them have known me over a 25-year football career. I am proud of the fact that good people in football who knew me then and know me now still want to phone me and still want to talk to me. It humbles you a lot.”