Millar: I’m Ready for the Challenge

The Bully Wee’s new head coach, Stuart Millar chatted to www.clydefc.co.uk after his appointment yesterday afternoon.

He will be assisted by Gordon Wylde, named first team coach, and Gordon will also be talking to the website soon.

Stuart was first up though and he spoke passionately about what lies ahead…

Welcome back to Clyde. You’ve been working for Ross County lately…
When I finished with Ayr United in 2007, Derek (Adams) immediately called and asked me to help him at Ross County but due to an illness in the family I couldn’t take a hands on role. Derek then offered me the position of chief scout and match assessor.

Did you always plan to return to a coaching role?
I was invited to join the staff at a County training camp last October and was given the chance to take one of the sessions. It was then I realised how much I missed working with players and I feel now is the right time physically and mentally for me to get back working hands on with players. That may sound strange after so many years in football but, as I alluded to earlier, my young brother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and during his illness I couldn’t give the time necessary to be involved in day to day club management. Craig died 15 months ago and as a family we have grieved for him, but as part of that bereavement process we also need to move on with our lives and I feel ready and excited about this challenge.

Your link with Neil Watt is well known, did that make it an easy decision to take the job?
Ross County have been great to me. Professionally and personally, George and Derek have been very kind to me so it wasn’t an easy decision and certainly was not clear cut. I was made to feel part of the team up there, from winning the Second Division, the Challenge Cup and this season reaching the Scottish Cup Final. It has been a special time up there but ultimately I wanted to get back to the coal face.

You have taken a title of head coach as opposed the traditional manager, in your words what do you see your role at Clyde?
I think manager is an outdated term. Some might say it is playing about with words but I know my area of responsibility; that is the first team and overseeing the under-19s. The director of football oversees the wider football matters throughout the club, so I can get on with the coaching. It is not a new term but it is new to Clyde and I think it is the right model. Ross County offer a blueprint for any club to aspire to and together as a management team we can share the workload. I have ultimate responsibility in the dressing room but I will be thankful for all the support I can get from Gordon and Neil. I will tap into their knowledge, three heads are better than one.

With Gordon also being an ex-Clyde player, it’s certainly an interesting team…
I’ve known Gordon for over 30 years, back to when we he kicked lumps out of me in boys’ football! I know Neil has been impressed with him since he rejoined Clyde and I’m delighted to be working with him.

When do you officially start and what will be your immediate priorities?
I still have to honour my commitments to Ross County and, in fact, I’m due to watch Dundee United this weekend so I’ll start my duties for Clyde the day after the cup final. I’ve already seen some games though and together with Neil and Gordon we have compiled a list of players who we would like to keep. I also have targets in mind. The money available will dictate things but I want us to have a nucleus of players. In the summer I’d rather be trying to get 6/8 players, not 12/14, but the players are out of contract and it is up to them to decide to join up or move on.

Clyde’s recent troubles have been well documented. How do you feel about getting involved at this time?
I am not qualified to talk about the financial side of things, I will just concentrate on football. It saddens me that the club has been in decline in recent years. I left Clyde 20 years ago and I always hoped I would come back. I spent the best days of my career here and I have never forgotten that. It is a real honour to be back at the Bully Wee, I feel it is my club. I can’t promise that we can bring immediate success – we have to walk before we can run – but I will do what I did as a player for Clyde and give 100%. I will also make sure the players who play for us will play for the jersey and I’m sure the fans will appreciate that. I can’t disguise my passion for the game.

There is no doubting your ambition to succeed…
There is a picture of me and Neil dressed in Stranraer colours holding the Third Division trophy and I want that to be me again – but dressed in the red, white and black of Clyde. I want us back sooner rather than later, but fans will need to be patient due to the financial restraints we will work under. I need to be realistic about what we can achieve in the first season but we will certainly try our best.