TONY’S PRIDE AS HE JOINS GORD’S TEAM
Scotland diehard Doc can’t wait to swap terraces for dugout seat
I love going to games. It’s hard to beat Hampden atmosphere
SCOTLAND fan Tony Docherty admits he’ll miss being part of the Tartan Army with his dad Gerry. But the Aberdeen No.2 is full of pride after being handed a shock call-up to Gordon Strachan’s national coaching team. And he still can’t believe he’ll be watching Scotland from the technical area rather than the stands when Strachan’s side plays Canada in a friendly and Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier this month. Docherty is a regular at Hampden with his father when the national side are in action. But it’s brother Vincent who will have to step in as Gerry’s partner as Docherty insisted he was bursting with pride to have been brought in to replace former Rangers and Hibs assistant Andy Watson, who left to become technical director with Al Habsi Football School in Oman. Docherty had been assistant to Derek McInnes for the last decade during managerial spells with St Johnstone, Bristol City and Aberdeen. And the 46-year-old is sure he has become a better coach in his four years at Pittodrie. He said: “After the Kilmarnock game at Rugby Park two weeks ago, Derek had mentioned to me Gordon Strachan had been in touch to ask if it was okay to let me go. “I’m very grateful to the club and Derek that they’ve afforded me the opportunity and it’s something I’m looking forward to. “I’m a big Scotland supporter. I love going to games. It’s hard to beat the Hampden atmosphere. “Hopefully that will be the case this time and we convert that into a win and kick on in the World Cup group again.
“I usually go to games with my old man. He’ll go with my brother Vince who will now get my ticket.
“My dad was proud. He said, ‘Good on you, well done, you’ve worked hard. Now go and enjoy it and get a win’.
“I hope I can lend a wee bit of experience and whatever knowledge I’ve got and help them to try to do well in these two games. We’ll see what happens after that.
“I’d say I’ve grown as a coach over the years at Pittodrie, where there’s a high expectation level and a lot of demands put upon you as a team and a coach.
“I’ve enjoyed it and I think I’ve developed at every stage I’ve been at, whether at the SFA, Falkirk, Dundee United, St Johnstone or Bristol City.
“But I would say that Aberdeen has played a major role.”
Doc will be at McInnes’s side for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup quarterfinal against Partick Thistle at Pittodrie.
And Dons defender Andrew Considine hopes the club’s assistant gaffer’s recognition at international level will spark renewed interest by Strachan in Aberdeen’s Scottish players.
He said: “Some have been in before – Kenny McLean has a cap, Graeme Shinnie has been in and before that Ryan Jack and Peter Pawlett.
“The lads have been playing very well this year so you’d like to think they’d get recognition.
“But I often think if you’re not playing for Celtic, Rangers or down in England then you get overlooked.
“That’s a shame because there are a lot of good Scottish defenders out there but just because they haven’t played in England they don’t get the call.”
DOCHERTY