Veteran McIndoe would love to sample Scots game
MICHAEL McINDOE is back sleeping with a ball and dreaming of becoming the Ryan Giggs of Scottish football.
The former Scotland B star has reached an age when most pros are already on the wind down, their Puma Kings relegated to the back of the cupboard.
However, at the age of 38 the former Doncaster, Wolves and Bristol City flying machine reckons he still has five years left to offer the Scottish game.
He’s genuine in his belief he could overtake Andy Millen’s record of 42 years and 279 days and become the oldest outfield player in the top flight.
The Edinburgh-born winger, a boyhood Hearts fan, is also keen to play senior football in Scotland for the first time in his career, even though he almost joined Celtic a decade ago.
He left a troubled upbringing in the capital as a teenager to sign for Luton and after turning his back on alcohol completely almost two decades ago, he reckons he has the body of a man 10 years his junior.
It has been lightly used too – McIndoe’s last senior appearance came in a 2-1 defeat for Coventry at Middlesbrough in April 2011.
McIndoe believes he turned his back on the game too soon in order to establish a London night club that drew a raft of negative headlines over claims he defrauded top Premiership stars out of millions.
He was declared bankrupt with debts of £3million four years ago but McIndoe was cleared of wrongdoing by the Metropolitan Police earlier this year and is now keen to enjoy an Indian summer in his career.
McIndoe said: “I’ve got a Sondico ball on my bedside table and I’ve been sleeping with it every night to make it my best friend again.
“I left football far too early. One of the worst decisions I ever made was buying a nightclub but now the desire to play at the highest level in Scotland is burning inside me again.
“My mate Marc McCulloch at Clydebank described me as a top-ofthe-range car that has been sitting in g.ralston@dailyrecord.co.uk the garage, unused for seven years. Spark me up, I’m still fresh.
“Ryan Giggs played in the Premier League at the age of 42 and confounded any sceptics with his level of performance. There’s no reason I can’t do the same up here.”
McIndoe has played the last two months at Junior club Clydebank as a favour to McCulloch and boss Kieran McAnespie and shone at that level playing a range of positions.
A short-term deal was only ever planned but it has paid off – McIndoe is match fit and the Bankies, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, are sitting second top of the West Region Premiership.
“I suffered no serious injuries in 20 years as a senior pro and the longest I was ever out was for two-and-a-half weeks. I’ve only ever missed 12 competitive matches. I haven’t been out drinking and partying.
“I’ve played more than 500 games at a high level in England and scored 84 goals, including strikes against clubs such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Burnley. I have a target of playing 1,000 games and scoring more than 100 goals.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of coaches in the Premiership and Championship.
“There’s no reason I can’t play at that level. If anyone wants to question my fitness, give me a test. I’d be as fit as anyone in the squad.
“I’ve never been relegated and I’ve won titles, been named in several league teams of the season and won many player of the year awards. Get me in your team and I’ll get you promoted.”
McIndoe has had enough negative headlines around his business life and wonders at times if his colourful past hasn’t made managers wary.
But he’s deadly serious about all he still has to contribute.
He said: “Between 2003-2009 I signed more contracts than any other player in English football – 26-and-a-half years in total.
“I was in demand and playing well. I’ve never played in Scotland. There was an opportunity to go to Celtic a few years ago but they went for Kris Commons eventually.
“I signed for Wolves instead because I was focused on getting to the Premier League, not least as it would have increased my chances of playing for Scotland.”
GARY RALSTON