It's the game that's in my blood, not any of the clubs I've worked for

PHEW. It feels good to be back in football at the sharp end. People have suggested that there has been a bit of a U-turn on someone's part and I can perhaps see why, as both Graham Rix and myself had previously said that although we really enjoy working with each other and have done so many times in the past, we weren't sure it would have been right for him to walk into Tynecastle and immediately install a former Hibs manager in the Hearts dug-out beside him.

But things have changed. Mostly in my own mind. I had built that situation up and given it too much significance and it was only when I spoke to guys like Billy Brown that I think I began to realise how much I had an exaggerated things.

Through doing the radio work, I have been at both Tynecastle and Easter Road a lot and there was rarely any animosity from the fans - Hearts or Hibs - in fact most I spoke to wished me well and said they hoped I would get back into football. I think they all realised that like the majority of people in football, particularly those in management, I have no special allegiance to anyone other than whatever club is employing me at that time. I'd like to think that, while there will be some Hibs fans who consider me a traitor and some Hearts fans won't want me because I once worked for Hibs, that most see me as a football man. That's what I am.

As much as I enjoy the media side of things and the punditry work I have been doing, there's nothing that beats being on the training ground or in the dressing room with the players or in the manager's room talking football and tactics. Football is my passion.

On the radio, I do like the chat and the way you can watch a game in a far more relaxed manner than you ever could as a manager or coach and take time to analyse the play. But it's the coaching that's my passion and if you have a passion and get the chance to indulge it then you take it.

I've realised that, which is why, when Graham asked me to come on board I had no hesitation in accepting. He knew there were going to be more faces arriving and more coaching staff needed as a result.

Thus far I have just been edging my way in, watching an observing, trying to find my bearings but also get to know the players and the other coaches and suss out how they think or go about their business. I have been impressed with what I've seen.

As you would expect, guys like Rudi Skacel and Paul Hartley are a joy to watch in training. They are the fans' favourites for a reason and have great skill and real energy about the way they play and train.

But for me, it's the attitude of guys like Elvis and Andy Webster that really impressed me. They are so aggressive, not in a kicking-anything-that-moves way, but, mentally. They have a winning attitude and they don't like it if someone allows someone to run off them, even in training and even if it doesn't cost a goal, and they are not slow to let the guys know that. Seeing that attitude from them day after day in training is special for me.

I worked with some of the young players as well in an afternoon session this week and, while Hearts have made the headlines by buying in so many players, they also have some good youngsters there too.

And, from a coaching point of view that's great. It's wonderful to work with real quality players but it's just as satisfying to see the younger players develop and learn.

And the facilities at Hearts' Riccarton training complex make it easy to do that. The facilities are marvellous and I was able to take a youth session on the indoor pitches this week.

There are only maybe another two clubs in Scotland where I would have been able to do that.

But the aspect of the job I am still trying to get my head round is the various languages spoken in the dressing room. They all seem a good bunch, although I think we are all trying to work each other out so there haven't been many pranks, but the atmosphere is good and with so many characters, I'm guessing it won't be long!

But whenever I have had foreign players at clubs I've been with, I've always tried to learn a few words, even if it's just "hello'", "goodbye", "please" and "thank you" - the basics. So next up is Czech and Lithuanian, although I will have to be careful who I ask for tutorials!

I remember at Dundee one players arriving and asking the likes of Alan Dinnie for some help. He was more than happy, but unfortunately the first four words learned were the most common swear words you could think of.

There was even the day they went to the shop at Broughty Ferry for an ice-cream and he wanted a flake in his. Duly taught what he thought was the word for 99, he couldn't understand why the owners of the shop were giving him dirty looks and the Scottish boys were sniggering behind him. Ah, yes, it's good to be back!

Taken from the Scotsman