I FEARED I'D NEVER GET BACK INTO FOOTBALL

AS a defender Paul Hegarty was used to handing out his fair share of heavy knocks but in management he's been battered to a pulp.

So why, you might ask, would the former Dundee United stalwart invite more punishment?

After being unveiled as Motherwell's assistant boss under Maurice Malpas, the answer became clear.

Despite hitting the canvas in various managerial and coaching roles at Aberdeen, Tannadice, St Johnstone, Dunfermline and Livingston, he couldn't resist the challenge of picking himself back up and returning to a game that is in his blood.

Hegarty said: "I had looked elsewhere for work but when you've been in the game since 1972 it's 34 years of your life and that's a long time.

"I would be liar if I said I hadn't feared never getting back into the game, especially at this level as I've been out of it for more than a year and just watching games as an SPL delegate.

"I never lost the faith and it's happened for me now with Terry Butcher deciding to move to Australia so I'm delighted. There are a lot of coaches and managers out of the game and they want back every bit as much as I did.

"Football is in the blood so much that it's hard to be on the outside. It's not the same watching without being involved.

"Sometimes you have to go down to the First or Second Division to get a way in again but thankfully this time that wasn't necessary."

Hegarty could harbour grudges over the way he lost previous jobs but doesn't feel that does any good.

He said: "At Aberdeen and Dundee United the circumstances were outwith my control, even though I was only 65 days with United.

"What's done is done and they made their decision.

"Obviously the Aberdeen one was hard. I was there to the end of the season and kept them up and everyone knows the job was supposed to me mine but they didn't give me it. I think if you feel bitter or hold grudges, and don't get me wrong I was upset and annoyed, it does you no good. I've met Eddie Thompson and Stewart Milne on numerous occasions and they're very civil and hospitable people.

"But they made their decisions and while I wasn't happy with them they were the right reasons in their eyes for United and Aberdeen.

"Now I want to help take Motherwell a stage further but not to prove something to previous clubs because I'm not that type of person.

"I'm not a soft touch but I don't hold grudges. The older you become, the more philosophical you get."

Hegarty can't wait to hit the training ground and work with the promising Fir Park kids as he believes it's a task he excels at after bringing through young talent at Hearts.

He said: "I've known Maurice for 25 or 26 years and he's much younger than me.

"We'll be working as a partnership and hopefully my experience will be of value.

"We've got a lot of good youngsters here. The best spell I had working with young players was with Hearts where the kids had a great work ethic.

"We won the reserve league and the more we got results the better the players became. We had guys like Paul Ritchie and Gary Naysmith, players who worked extremely hard to make the grade.

"Naysmith's got a great work ethic and when you see players like that become internationals you're delighted for them.

"I think Motherwell have got that taken care of thanks to the efforts of terry, Maurice and Chris McCart."

Having a reputation as one of football's gentleman doesn't mean Hegarty is a soft touch.

He said: "If I blow my top then I mean it at the time but it's all to help people.

"Looking back, there were situations when I blew my top and shouldn't have. You sometimes have to take a step back.

"I've been in the game for 37 years and people think I'm nice. Off the park maybe, but not on the park.

"Being polite ... does that mean you're soft? When I was 30 my wife and family didn't want to leave Dundee.

"Jim McLean offered me a three-year contract with a three-year option. I said, 'Give me a straight six'.

"The manager said he'd get back to me. Within 24 hours he was back with the six."

Malpas never had any doubts about appointing Hegarty as his No. 2. The manager said: "As soon as Terry told me he was leaving I knew who I wanted.

"Circumstances meant making the appointment has stretched out a bit but I'm delighted Paul's in now.

"I have great trust in him and total faith in his ability. We worked well together at Dundee United and we know each other inside out.

"He brings with him a great coaching ability and we need that here as we have so many young players.

"He was an enthusiastic player and he's kept that as a coach. We need to use that and his dedication to get through to the youngsters.

"I know I can trust him and he's got an opinion which I value. Even though I make the decisions we can hold an open debate.

"I'm the crabbit one-even though I'm fairly quiet, when I blow I really blow - and he's on an even keel.

"He's had a few kicks where it hurts and bounced back."

Motherwell return to training on June 23. Hegarty is counting the days.

Taken from the Daily Record