HEARTS MOVE GETS NATH A PAT ON BACK
Taylor: New guy can be O’Reilly good for Accies
new club in Ayrshire to his family home in Renfrewshire And given that he came very close just last month to upping sticks and leaving his wife and kids all over again to return to work at Ipswich, this feels like something of a perfect fit. McInnes goes on: “Another factor that came into the decision was living away from my family home for the last 10 years after two years in Bristol and another eight in Aberdeen. “It’s a great feeling to know I’m now just a 35-minute drive away from my place of work. “I don’t want anyone to think that means I’m taking this on just because it’s convenient. That would be entirely wrong. “But it’s worth mentioning how important it is to feel happy and settled. Being back at home recently has reinforced the fact that I’ve missed out on so much over these last 10 years. “It has made me realise I don’t want to be one of these older managers who look back with regret at not being around my own family more. I was talking to Archie Knox the other day and he was saying that, since he left Aberdeen, he’s lived in 28 different houses, travelled all over the place.
“When you speak to people who have been so long in the game, they all stress the importance of being around family.
“So obviously being so close to my family now and being able to drive to my work is another big benefit.
“It’s another big reason that makes this job feel like the right one at this stage in my career.”
There’s solid logic involved here too. He won’t be getting a call back from Rangers anytime soon now that Giovanni van Bronckhorst is off and running in the post. Likewise, Celtic is an obvious non-starter.
So where else is there for McInnes to lay down roots? Robbie Neilson is a safe bet at Hearts after his fine first season back in the top flight.
Aberdeen isn’t going to happen. In fact, the new American-influenced model which has been rolled out at Pittodrie is also being implemented at Hibs, Dundee United and Dundee.
That all four of these clubs have chosen to employ rookie managers over the last couple of years points to a clear strategy more than just a passing trend.
McInnes then is rolling the dice on taking Kilmarnock all the way back to the top by himself with the backing of a board which, led by Billy Bowie, takes a more traditional view on the value of employing a manager to lead from the front.
McInnes says: “Having met the people at the club – the board and Bill – I felt straight away that these were people I could work with for a variety of reasons.
“We then spent a few days going over the details and I heard everything I needed to hear. It feels good to be the Kilmarnock manager.
“I’ve enjoyed my time out doing various things and bits and pieces. I felt I had earned that after 14 years straight as a manager. Eight years of that was spent in Aberdeen and there’s a lot of work involved in being an Aberdeen manager for that length of time. It meant I had to make a lot of sacrifices.
“But, having had this break, there is now a good opportunity for me to go and do something similar at another club. That’s what I intend to do. I’m just looking forward to getting started.”
BY ALAN MARSHALL
FORMER Hearts defender Patrick Kisnorbo insists Tynecastle is the perfect platform for Nathaniel Atkinson to make his mark in Europe.
The right-back left Melbourne City to join Hearts on Christmas Eve and the Jambos are hoping to welcome the player in the coming days as they attempt to obtain the relevant visa and work permit paperwork.
Melbourne boss Kisnorbo arrived at Hearts from Down Under in 2003 and spent two years in Edinburgh before following boss Craig Levein to Leicester in 2005.
The Australia cap also played for Leeds and Ipswich before returning to his homeland in 2013.
And Kisnorbo insists Atkinson will learn a lot from playing in Scotland as the 22-year-old looks to make the most of his career on the other side of the world.
Kisnorbo said: “I played there, that was my first European club. I’ve got a lot of good memories there. I actually played with the manager, Robbie Neilson, we played in the same team for a few years.
“Time will tell how he will go. It’s not an easy league, there’s no such thing as an easy game.
“Conditions are difficult so it will be a good test for Nathaniel to see what European football is like.
“Maybe us as a nation, we think of Scotland and we only think of Celtic and Rangers. But it’s not like that, Scotland is a great platform, it’s a great first step for anyone.
“Hearts also have Cam Devlin and now Nathaniel and it’s a good team, they have played in Europe.
“First of all if you go
HAMILTON head coach Stuart Taylor reckons he has landed a leader in Daniel O’Reilly.
Defender O’Reilly joined Accies on New Year’s Day from Irish outfit Drogheda.
And he shone on his debut as Hamilton kicked off 2022 with a 3-0 win at Queen of the South.
Accies have conceded 34 Championship goals, the overseas then it’s an accomplishment in itself because it’s hard for an Australian to move over.
“It’s one of those things in which people have their own opinion. Everyone thinks maybe that the pinnacle is Man City or Barcelona, that every kid is going to go there – which in reality they’re not.
“So it’s a good stepping stone for players to start a career, especially abroad.”
Midfielder Devlin has already become a fans favourite in Gorgie after joining from Newcastle Jets in the summer and Kisnorbo is adamant most Australian players are desperate to earn moves abroad, especially to Europe.
He added: “At the end of the day, Nathaniel was contracted, so we decide if Nathaniel goes or stays.
“We want to produce players for this club, and give them a chance.
“Now, he’s fulfilled a dream of many kids.
“Hopefully, it’s the first of many steps.” most in the league this term, but Taylor is confident O’Reilly can help tighten them up.
The gaffer said: “Daniel brought a huge calming influence to us. He’s a leader, he’s a talker, he’s an organiser and that was shown against Queen of the South.
“He showed the leadership qualities he’s got.”