DEINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
COLIN RENTON
NEWLY-APPOINTED Heriot's coach Bob McKillop has revealed the reasons why he opted for the Goldenacre club in preference to Glasgow Hawks, who were also keen to secure his services.

McKillop, who quit Stirling County at the end of the season, had accepted an offer to be assistant coach with the Glasgow side but subsequently had a change of heart and plumped for the Capital outfit.

There were, he says, several factors in reaching that decision. "As a player I used to get a buzz and a sense of foreboding when I walked into Goldenacre. I admire the club for its traditions and I see it as a club with potential. And obviously being offered the head coach role also played a huge part."

He admits to being stung by the criticism dished out by some of those involved with the Glasgow outfit but prefers not to engage in a war of words. However, he does believe that one aspect of the coverage he received is worthy of comment. He said: "The worst thing about it was the inference that I had been offered a better deal by Heriot's. That is completely inaccurate. There was no financial inducement. The only better deal was the position of head coach over assistant coach. It was purely a rugby decision. I have been hugely impressed by everybody I've met at Heriot's."

With the decision made, the 38 year old, who was SRU Premiership coach of the year in 2005 and assistant coach to the Scotland Club side that faced Ireland earlier in the year, is now focusing on the task of preparing Heriot's to challenge for honours.

This article was posted on 2-May-2006, 12:12 by Hugh Barrow.