SIR ALEX FERGUSON has revealed that he encouraged Brian McClair to break his long-term relationship with Manchester United and take up the position of performance director at the Scottish Football Association.
Ferguson knows himself just how hard it is to walk away from Old Trafford, having spent 26 years there as manager before retiring in 2013. He knows just how difficult it must have been for McClair to make the decision to leave after almost 14 seasons there as reserve coach and academy director.
Ultimately, though, Ferguson believes McClair, who also spent 11 years at United as a player, has made the right choice in taking over from Dutchman Mark Wotte at the heart of the Scottish game.
"Some people can't leave Manchester United and it must have been a real big decision," said Ferguson.
"He came to see me and I said: 'I think you should take it, Brian, I think it's a great challenge for you'.
"Going back to Scotland is a big change for him, but he said: 'I think I can do something here' and I agreed with him.
"You have to look at the job he had at Manchester United. Our academy system has to work. Manchester United has to produce young players and his role as director was a very difficult job.
"He had the intelligence and presence to carry that through and he has done that for the last 10 years.
"He brings experience and a CV as a terrific player, which helps. You want to see Scotland start to produce young players because that is the key to getting back to the days when Aberdeen won the Cup-Winners' Cup, Celtic won the European Cup and Rangers won the Cup Winners' Cup. That was all with Scottish players and people abroad can't believe that."
Ferguson insists the promotion of young players is essential for the Scottish national side's continuing health and is encouraged by the structures that now exist within the game north of the border.
"For Gordon Strachan, it's important he's got something coming through," said Ferguson in an interview with the SFA website. "There's nothing better than when I had those young players coming through to my team at Manchester United.
"With the Beckhams and the Giggsys, we were all excited. Everyone at that club knew something was happening and that we had a rare breed of young players.
"If you've got that structure and there is a flow coming through continually, the full national team will benefit. At the moment, they have some very good young players - particularly in midfield - and you can see progress."
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