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Former Celtic boss lands right back in Paradise
25/07/1994
Have passport … will travel! That's been the life of soccer wanderer Davie Hay since he was sacked as Celtic manager seven years ago to make way for the return of Billy McNeill.
But that seven-year soccer itch ends today when he walks back into Parkhead for his first full week as the club's new chief scout under boss Tommy Burns.
And as he prepared for his new role, he spoke exclusively to the Daily Record about his future and his travels in the past.
"No one could have planned their career the way mine has worked out," said Hay.
"But it's given me experience I couldn't have paid money to gain. I've been with different clubs, worked with different players and made so many contacts. It's a lot to have happened. I even had a spell as an agent.
"Now I'm ready to put it all together to work with Tommy and help make Celtic a football power again.
"There are new people in control at the club. It's a fresh start for Celtic, and a fresh start for me.
"I don't know if I would ever have returned if the old board had still been in charge.'' He added one of his famous deadpan remarks: "I don't think I'd have been asked'' Davie went on: "I've lost the bitterness I had when I was sacked. You can't forget completely about all wounds.
"But you can't go through your life looking back and bearing grudges for ever.'' He still has a Celtic Supporters Club named after him and he's still close to the fans.
"They're the people who have had it hardest for so long, especially with Rangers walking off with nearly everything.
"We'll all be working as hard as we can to give them something to shout about.'' It also means he'll be working with another of the back-room staff, Frank Connor, whom he sacked as his assistant when he was Celtic boss.
But Hay said firmly: "I've had a chat with Frank and there's no bitterness between us. We're all pulling together for the club.''
There was a sparkle from him as he said: "Going back to Celtic is different class. I can hardly believe it's happened.''
It also saved another entry on his passport.
He was waiting to be told to fly to Lagos to be interviewed for the Nigerian international team job – when Tommy Burns moved in with Celtic's offer.
Hay looked back on those travels and added: "After I left Celtic I didn't feel like getting back into football, and it stayed that way for nearly two years.
"Then it all happened in a rush. I was offered the manager's job at Newcastle.
"I met the chairman Gordon McKeag in his house and I almost accepted his offer.
"But I didn't feel comfortable about it, and I was proved right. They had to undergo the same take-over battle as Celtic before the club was put in order.
"I was a bit wiser from my time at Celtic and wanted a longer contract, but I was to be on trial with them to the end of the season.
"I got in the door at my house after I drove back from Newcastle, when I got a call from a friend of my mine who is an agent in Sweden, with the offer of taking over Lillestrom in Norway.
"I agreed on a year's contract, with an option and it worked superbly, for we won the title. I've never regretted turning down Newcastle.
"It was my first experience of the European way of doing things. I concentrated totally on the coaching, the administration was looked after by other people.
"It let me spend more time with the players than I ever did at Celtic.
"While I was in Norway I was offered the Gothenburg job, but I priced myself out of it because by then I was a bit home-sick.
"However, there's an openness about negotiations abroad. I told Lillestrom I wasn't taking up my option and there was no sourness.
"I'll always look back with happy memories on my spell in Norway. It rejuvenated me.
"I remember tipping Norway at the time for international success. They were looked on as the poor cousins of the north.
"But they got to the World Cup Finals, even if they didn't do well and in the rest of Scandanavia, the Danes are the current European champions, while Sweden finished third in the World Cup.
"They are dedicated sportsmen who always want to improve."
Hay's next port of call was Watford in the English Second Division.
"My wife Catherine was still in Glasgow, so I watched games nearly every night and saw plenty up-and-coming stars and I hope that'll help me at Celtic.''
He left there to join St Mirren in the Premier Division and recalled: "It's the only time I've ever been with a team who were relegated.
"And it's the only time I was offered a three-year rolling contract. I was grateful for their confidence.
"I took over a team that badly needed change and we started signing kids
"Much of it was due to a guy named Joe Hughes, who found so many starlets, including Barry Lavety, Jamie Fullerton and Martin Baker.
"St Mirren will get the benefit from these signings, either on the park or financially by transfers.
" But the lure of America proved too strong and his passport was stamped for a spell with Tampa Bay Rowdies.
"An approach had been made two years earlier when I was at Motherwell.
"That excited me, so when Tampa made a move I decided to take the plunge.
"I was a director of Tampa and invested money in it. I still have a considerable financial stake in the club.
"That's why I'm hoping the game takes off over there and I'll start getting a dividend.
"Rodney Marsh was general manager and there were a lot of changes.
"I started off as No.2 to Ricky Hill. But when it came to the play-offs in the APSL I was in charge of the side… however, we lost 1-0 to Colorado in the Finals.
"I was then offered the job of general manager and coach. But my family didn't settle in Florida.
"I hadn't sold my house in Glasgow and the pull of returning home was just too much. We couldn't agree on a deal, so I called it quits."
It was back to Britain – this time to Swindon Town, newly promoted to the English Premiership.
"We didn't make a good start and were always chasing our tail, although we did have some good performances.
"I recommended one of my old Lillestrom players, Jan Fjortoft, who was with Rapid Vienna.
"I told them he would always score goals – and he took six months to get his first one.
"Then he notched 14 and became a hero with the fans.
"But I felt my partnership with manager John Gorman was coming to an end and it was better for everyone if I moved on.
"The club were very good and they paid in full the year of my contract I still had to run.
"Out of all my travels Swindon was the best. Just for the experience of being involved in the English Premiership.''
Now a new chapter starts today for Davie Hay. There will be plenty travelling, but he will always be returning to his Parkhead base.