Source: Daily_Mail
Former Celtic and Hibs star John Collins prepared to listen over SFA role
Experience: Collins earned 58 Scotland caps[LNB]John Collins would be interested in becoming national performance director at the Scottish Football Association. [LNB]The role is a key recommendation made in the first part of former First Minister Henry McLeish's Scottish Football Review, commissioned by the SFA in a bid to rejuvenate the game in Scotland. [LNB]The performance director will oversee talent development and former Hibernian manager Collins, speaking at Toryglen, Glasgow, where he was launching a mentoring initiative for young players, said: 'If they (SFA) wanted to talk to me, I would be more than happy to talk to them about that role. [LNB]'I'm not pitching for any job or chasing for any job, I'm quite happy at the moment working in the media. But if they wanted to talk to me, I would be glad to talk to them.'[LNB]Collins has strong views as to why Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France, where he scored a penalty in the 2-1 opening-game defeat by Brazil. [LNB]'We have not been at a World Cup for 12 years and the reason is we are not good enough, it's as simple as that,' he said. [LNB]'Technically we have fallen behind other nations and we have to look at solving the problems. [LNB]'It starts at grass-roots level, with kids at seven, eight, nine and 10, and it's got to be all about skill, to be able to deal with the ball. [LNB]'It's not about who is big and strong, who can play at centre-half, who can kick it the furthest, we have to get rid of that. [LNB]'We have to coach the coaches, to make sure the coaches are transmitting the proper messages to the kids. [LNB]'Pass and move, treat the ball with care and attention, don't give it away easily and then you will start developing technically-gifted players. [LNB] 'It sounds simplistic - it is simplistic. The SFA are working on it, there's no doubt about that, but they have to work harder. [LNB]'There have to be rules and regulations put in place. If a coach is coaching a youth team and he is not coaching them properly, not transmitting the right messages, then the coach has to be removed because he is doing more damage than good.'[LNB] Celtic must let Neil Lennon choose his own staff, warns John CollinsCaretaker boss Neil admits experienced No 2 could be crucialLiam's ready to be a Bhoy: Lawrence pleads with Stoke for move to Celtic[LNB] [LNB]
