McCLAIR THE NEXT BEST THING TO SIR ALEX, SAYS REGAN

SIR ALEX FERGUSON once bracketed Brian McClair, the player, alongside Pe te r Schmeichel and Eric Cantona as among his best- ever value-for-money signings for Manchester United.

Yesterday, the 51-year-old found himself showered with fresh high praise as a coach, as his appointment as the Scottish FA’s new performance director was hailed as the next best thing to landing Sir Alex himself.

As United rose from also-rans to claim 38 trophies in 26 years under Ferguson, McClair was, at first, the club’s star striker; the first player to net over 20 league goals in one season since George Best.

He was then a successful reserve coach and youth coach before taking up his current role as director of the club’s highlyrespected youth academy.

McClair arrives at his new post with the ringing endorsement of Ferguson. SFA chief executive Stewart Regan believes working for a quarter of a century under British foot ball’s greatest manager will be Scotland’s gain.

‘ Brian McClair’s credentials speak for themselves with his track record and his experience over 25 years at Manchester United,’ smiled Regan.

‘Is this the next best thing to appointing Sir Alex Ferguson? Well, his experience will count for a huge amount!

‘You don’t spend 25 years at Manchester United unless you are well regarded — and Sir Alex speaks highly of him.

‘I spoke to Sir Alex myself in the build-up as part of the process after Gordon Strachan had an initial chat with Brian.

‘He has come recommended and he is respected in the game.

‘He understands youth football, he is a Scot, he has played for the Scotland national al team — and I think that is important as well!

‘ One of t he challenges he faces will be to build a strong relationship with the clubs in Scotland and Bri an’ s track record will allow him to do that.

‘ I would not want to put pressure on hiss shoulders, but hee is his own mann and will do a good job for us.’

McClair, whoo starts on June 1 and will move to Scotland, will be responsible for every aspect of performance from Under-21 down in both the men and women’s game. His remit includes the 300 youngsters in the SFA’s seven performance schools and he will work closely with Strachan and Anna Signeul, the Women’s A-squad coach, to ensure ‘a co-ordinated approach to elite talent development.’

His appointment came after Strachan called him for advice as the SFA researched replacing Dutchman Mark Wotte. The pair played together at Manchester United for two years between 1987 and 1989 but this was the first time they had spoken on the phone in 25 years.

Keen to stress this was no ‘ old pals’ act,’ Strachan revealed at the weekend the last time the duo got close was when he required six stitches in his leg after a challenge f rom McClair as Leeds f aced Manchester United in the 1990s.

What started as a general chat between the two former teammates would eventually — in spite of McClair’s trademark sarcasm — end with him appearing for an interview before Regan, Strachan, and f ormer Scotland bosses Walter Smith and Andy Roxburgh.

‘I was told Gordon was looking for my number,’ recalled McClair, who won 30 caps for Scotland, scoring against the CIS at Euro 1992.

‘He was looking to talk to me United in their blessings: Strachan and McClair’s former boss Sir Alex Ferguson (inset) have both backed him to succeed in his new role about my experiences in youth development with Manchester United. He asked me if I knew anyone else he should be speaking to, or anyone I would recommend for the job. So I said: “Me!”

‘I think he assumed that I was being sarcastic. I don’t possibly know why he thought that! But I think he took the time to consider it and eventually thought: “Maybe he was being serious.”

‘The next thing I know, I get called for an interview and then was offered the position.

‘When Sir Alex found out I had got the job, all he told me was that I had the intelligence for it,’ added McClair, who studied maths at Glasgow University while playing for Motherwell then Celtic in the 1980s.

McClair was also keen to swat aside any perception that his move to Scotland came because the departure of his mentor Ferguson had left his jacket on a shoogly peg in the United academy.

‘When someone as supportive as Sir Alex leaves, then there will be a big change. But I haven’t been pushed out by United. There was no pressure whatsoever put on me to leave.

‘I’ve enjoyed working with all the young players at United but I would never pick a favourite. It’s like goals. People ask me what the best goal I scored in my career was and I always say I never scored a bad one. I’ve never had a bad experience coaching kids.

‘Will it be difficult to leave Old Trafford? I prefer to think of it as I’m arriving somewhere. I’ve been blessed to be part of the Ferguson era and to share in that success as a player t hen a coach and developer. But this was the right thing for me.

‘I want there to be serious fun. I always want the kids to be having fun, but at the same time it has to be serious if you want to achieve something. That’s my philosophy.

‘There was an emotional element to my decision to return to Scotland. I felt I wanted to give something back. I want to make a difference — and I think I can.’