East Fife boss Gary Naysmith says he is not afraid to get his hands dirty as he embarks on his first job in management.
Naysmith was studying for his coaching badges in the summer and freely admits a managerial post was probably furthest from his mind a few months ago as he sought to get his playing career back on track.
But the 35-year-old worked wonders after being asked to take charge following Willie Aitchison’s resignation last month and was rewarded with the job on a permanent basis this week.
Naysmith may have been fast-tracked into management, but the ex-Hearts and Everton man is certainly not afraid of hard work.
“If I compare it to playing, I left school, I went into Hearts as a YTS on a two-year contract and in that two years I got myself into the reserve team,” he said.
“I got another contract and got myself into the first team, then I got other contracts and moves and played for Scotland.
“But I started at the bottom and got up to quite a high level I should probably have got to a higher level if it wasn’t for injuries.
“So I’m quite happy to do that as a manager. I take the training kit up to training some nights, I drive the kit van up, I bring it back for the lads to wash.
“I’ve not got a problem with all that. Especially if you are on a limited budget with limited staff, it’s important that everybody does everything they can.”
At just 35, Naysmith becomes the latest in a long line of young managers who have successfully made the transition from playing to managing.
Fellow ex-Hearts player Allan Johnston was given the Kilmarnock job after doing well at Queen of the South while Paul Hartley has taken Alloa through the leagues to the Championship and was mentioned for the Inverness post.
And Naysmith said: “If I could get anywhere near the success those two have had I’d be delighted.”
Picture by David Wardle