EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
Bob's still in the rugby family
BILL LOTHIAN

BOB McKILLOP goes in at the deep end as Heriot's new coach on Saturday at home to champions Glasgow Hawks.

But, instead of a pivotal role in the glamour fixture of the opening weekend of the Premiership, McKillop could have been out of rugby altogether.

And he's grateful to the Goldenacre club for allowing him to maintain his involvement in rugby.

He said: "I realised my time at Stirling County was coming to an end when I found myself conducting a training session with my two-year-old son in my arms.

"Then, on another occasion, I was obliged to take my mum to Melrose where she spent an entire match babysitting for my other son while his brother was in hospital.

"What it boiled down to - despite Stirling's best efforts - was lack of back-up.

"At Heriot's we have support in place so that, if I have to miss training or even a match due to family or work circumstances, then George Breckenridge can take over and vice versa.

"Had it not been for this then I'd probably have followed through with my plan to drop out of rugby altogether for a spell."

McKillop's dedication to the oval ball has never been in doubt since he spent a spell in his early 20s seeking out alternative medical opinion which agreed with his view that a neck injury didn't necessarily spell the end of his career.

"I can be a desperate man when push comes to shove," joked the 39-year-old former flanker who, having been part a player in the Stirling County side that won the title in 1995, is bidding to repeat the feat as a coach - emulating the likes of Sean Lineen, , during his time at Boroughmuir.

McKillop added: "Fortunately, at the third attempt I found a specialist who agreed my efforts in the gym strengthening neck muscles meant I was at no greater risk than anyone else, and I returned to the fray until a combination of a shoulder injury and realisation that I was becoming the miserable old git who slows the ball up and spoils the game for 29 other players brought down the curtain."

By then McKillop had moved to Dunfermline where he had begun practising lessons learned during his enforced sidelining.

"I was very fortunate when I injured my neck to have a coach at Stirling like Richie Dixon, who quickly put me in charge of the second team. That experience, coupled with help from [Edinburgh interim coach] Henry Edwards when I was a 20-year-old captain of his Alloa club, meant I didn't have to look too far for good role models."

Had McKillop walked away this season it would undoubtedly have been a major waste of talent for, around the time he was contemplating his future, the Scotland amateur team was formed for a match with Ireland and the Standard Life investment manager was invited to take the reins along with Gary Parker.

"When Scotland called, my wife, Carol, who has borne the brunt of my coaching involvement, remarked that I'd better carry on because I was obviously doing something right.

"I'm ambitious in work and play but would probably draw the line at involvement in the pro game because of my family circumstances but I've never considered my hobby to be 'rocket science'.

"My philosophies which I hope to put into effect at a fantastic club like Heriot's, whom I first admired as I sat as a youngster on the Stirling bench watching in awe as their three Milne brothers strutted their stuff in the front row, are based largely on man-management.

"Players and coaches alike must enjoy themselves along the way and there should be scope for the individual to realise his potential. Combining that with the need for results is the key trick."

Heriot's finished eighth last season, just three points above the relegation zone and McKillop added: "One of my first jobs has been helping repair morale and enthusiasm and, rather than spend heaps of time looking at organisation, team plays and various moves, if we can improve the guys awareness of playing what is in front of them that will pay greater long-term dividends."

To that end, Heriot's have had a hectic four-match pre-season, although McKillop admits that it will only be when the action starts for real, ironically against another team who were in competition for his services over the summer, Hawks, that a true indication of any progress will be provided.

"Having played two English clubs as well as Second Division Hamilton and the Edinburgh back-up team, it is impossible to say for certain where we are at.

"However, on what I have seen so far, it is hard to envisage any club having greater commitment and consistency.

"We look forward, on Saturday, to marking ourselves against the best," added McKillop.

This article was posted on 24-Aug-2006, 11:24 by Hugh Barrow.