JAMIE LANGFIELD is the man with a firm grasp of all St Mirren’s goalkeeping affairs.
The veteran is currently the man between the sticks for the club's first-team while also doubling as their goalie coach to his understudies. But he admits the fact he is St Mirren's No.1 wouldn’t stop him from banging on manager Ian Murray’s door to call for one of his students to be picked instead.
Back-up keeper Mark Ridgers may be on loan at Kilmarnock, but academy starlets Dan Wilks and Reece Willison are still working with Langfield, and the former Aberdeen man is keen to see them not only push each other but him for a place in the top team.
Langfield said: “Mark going to Killie was the right thing for him and the club. We still have the two younger boys. People made a lot about it but when he moved Mark wasn’t playing. He got the chance to go to a Premiership team and knows he can get called back. He has the best of both worlds and is no worse off.
“As long as they are learning and show me what they are capable of then it gives the manager a problem. It doesn’t matter if I’m doing well, if they are doing better than me then they will be in the team and I’ll be the first person to go to the manager to say ‘give them a chance’.
“I’m not going to just sit here and say they don’t deserve a chance when they do. Just because I’m their coach doesn’t mean I’ll have an open mind.”
The 35-year-old Paisley native may be in the twilight of his playing days, but it is just the beginning of what he hopes is a long and successful career in the other side of the game. The ability to combine both roles at St Mirren was a major factor in bringing Langfield to St Mirren Park in the first place, and it’s an experience he has enjoyed.
“I’ve been really enjoying my time here, perhaps Lady Luck could have been on our side a bit more, though,” he said ahead of today’s Championship meeting at Livingston.
“I’ve enjoyed playing as well as the coaching. The boys have been brilliant and last weekend’s result [4-0 win against Dunfermline] shows you the quality we have. If we keep playing like that it will be a good season. I like passing on my experience and in my coaching drills I like to listen to people. I know they are younger but I always ask them what they need to improve on, whether it’s their kicking, handling or whatever.
“If I see things wrong I’ll tell them, and it’s great getting them at a young age for these things to sink in. I’ve worked with great coaches like Jim Leighton, Gordon Marshall, Jim Stewart, they have been the best. But I don’t want to be like them. I’ll take bits from all of them but I want to put my own stamp on it. The game is a lot more modern and I want to get my coaching up to speed.”
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