Gemmill flattered to be linked with Jags job ahead of Ukraine
SCOT GEMMILL had admitted he’s flattered to be linked with the Partick Thistle job, but insists he’s concentrating on Scotland Under 21s’ massive game tonight in Kiev.
Scotland face Ukraine tonight knowing a win would put them firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot, although they will need to do it without the injured Fraser Hornby, who has netted five goals in his last two games and Celtic winger Mikey Johnston.
Gemmill has been linked with a move to take charge at Firhill after the Jags axed long-serving boss Alan Archibald this week.
And although former Everton and Scotland midfielder Gemmill insists he’s heard nothing from Maryhill, he admits he will have to move on one day, after two years as Under 21s boss.
He said: “I’ve no idea if that’s true. It’s nothing to do with me. I haven’t applied for the job.
“I take it as a compliment and it’s something I have been honest about from day one when I first started working as a coach for the SFA at Under 15s level that I was working towards being a club manager.
“When I finished playing, my profile was not high enough to get a job and I had to go down a different pathway and that’s what I am trying to do. And I was honest enough to say that from day one and I am still on that pathway.
“But at the same time I am very appreciative and my job has evolved. I am now the Under 21s coach and I am concentrating on that to prepare the team to play tomorrow the best I can.
“It doesn’t feel like the most stable of jobs. When I moved through the age groups to get to the 21s, everyone started speaking about whether my job was about development or performances. Personally, I think it’s a real balance between the two and doing everything we can to help these young players but at the same time to be as competitive as possible.
“I would hope that the framework we work to, everyone can see that it’s working and the clarity of message to players is there consistently and we can point to some really strong results over the past 18 months with the 21s. but you never know because it’s football isn’t it.
“The results are more visible with the 21s. I feel my record of four straight Under 17s qualifications for Finals is good, but not a lot of people get to hear about those results.”