Motherwell have gone with a foreign manager for just the second time in their history with the appointment of Michael Wimmer.
The German, 44, was unveiled as the Steelmen’s new boss on Monday after Fir Park chiefs decided he was the outstanding candidate during their process of finding Stuart Kettlewell’s replacement.
Well chairman Kyrk MacMillan explained he feels the former Austria Vienna boss is a good fit for the club and was whittled down to the final one after a “robust and strenuous” process which involved hundreds of applicants.
Temur Ketsbaia was another candidate who came close to landing the job.
Wimmer explained Motherwell will suit his style of play and he got a really good vibe during interviews with MacMillan and other club chiefs and it is an appointment which has gone down well with fans pleased to see their club think outside the box.
However, it has not gone down well with everyone.
Peter Grant on Motherwell’s Wimmer appointment
Former Dunfermline and Alloa boss Peter Grant has been left “disappointed” at the German coming into Fir Park.
That’s because he feels there are plenty of coaches already in Scotland who would have deserved the opportunity.
Grant would urge Scottish clubs to look at young talent in the country ahead of recruiting from abroad.
Speaking on Go Radio, he said: “We wish him all the best but I’m disappointed because I think there’s other people closer to home that deserve an opportunity, spent a lot of money on their coaching badges, and I think there’s guys out here that are equally as good. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.
“And I think we need to get back to that because if we’re talking about producing young players, producing young coaches, we have to do that and give it to your own.
“I’m talking for everyone because it’s different if there’s no young guys out there that are good enough. But I think there’s a lot of good ones here.”
Grant would want Partick Thistle job
The 59-year-old would include himself in the group of Scottish coaches and managers out of work who could do a job.
Another job currently vacant is at Partick Thistle after Kris Doolan’s sacking and Grant would be interested in talking to them.
But he insists he wouldn’t apply for it as the strength of his CV should be enough to attract Firhill decision makers.
He said: “I would always be interested. I’m not going to chap their door because if they’re doing their work properly they look at your CV, see your teams, how they played and how you’ve worked. Sometimes results are a wee bit skew-whiff.
“I’d hold myself with anybody on the training pitch, I don’t care if they’re German, French, whatever. I would put my hand up and say I could go on the training pitch with any coach and put something on.
“But then it comes down to the man-management of players, how you handle players.
“But if you don’t get the opportunity, there’s nothing else you can do about it.”
Barry Ferguson agreed with his fellow pundit, saying: “A lot of names never get mentioned. It must be frustrating.
“But I totally get Granty’s point if people do their homework and see the level people have coached at and what they’ve done at certain clubs.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think there is good foreign coaches and I hope he does a good job.
“But I think they should look at home first at and foremost because there is a lot of good coaches in Scotland.”