Ambitious Booth relishes opportunity to manage Glasgow City

FORMER Aberdeen and Scotland striker Scott Booth believes that his surprise appointment as head coach of Glasgow City could be the launchpad for a successful career in management. The 43-year-old, who was unveiled yesterday as Eddie Wolecki Black’s replacement, is making a fresh start after being sacked by Stenhousemuir in February. He had been at Ochilview for less than a year after working for Mark Wotte at the SFA and being in charge of agegroup teams. Asked what had made him apply for a job in women’s football, Booth replied: ‘The fact that the club and myself are really ambitious. This club has been really successful. ‘I have a hunger to be successful in football management and I think this will be a great place for me to begin that success.’ The new head coach’s first game in charge will be against Celtic at the Excelsior Stadium on Sunday. It is the first Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) game after the summer break, and Booth faces a huge challenge to emulate the achievements of Black. City have won the last 12 domestic trophies, the most recent of which was a League Cup win over Hibs last month. They reached the quarter-finals of the women’s Champions League earlier this year and have won eight SWPL titles on the trot. Booth (left) will have to hit the ground running, because for once his side are not having it all their own way. City only lead Hibs on goal difference after 11 games. ‘The major challenge is to remain successful,’ he said. ‘This season, it’s tight at the top with Hibernian. There has to be a lot of respect for the previous coaching team and, of course, to the players, who are the most important part of the club. ‘I feel comfortable we have the right players to go on and win the league and get more success for the club. ‘In Europe my objective is to try to go one better but, at the same time, we know it is a massive ask.’ Club manager Laura Montgomery had been taken aback by the sheer quality of candidates for the job. ‘We had applications from all around the world,’ she said. It is understood that a former Scottish Premiership manager had applied.