When he’s not involved with football, Livingston assistant coach Alan Kernaghan loves few things better than going round the shops – with or without his wife. But the only things Alan hopes to pick up this week is a win over Dundee. Ultimately, Alan, capped 22 times for the Republic of Ireland, hopes to manage in the English Premier League. But for the time being he’s delighted to renew his acquaintance with Livi head coach Alan Preston and honour a pledge made to each other a few seasons back.
Alan grew up in the market town of Otley, with his parents and elder brother, who works in Belfast building parts for aircrafts. He inherited his love of football from his dad, who was a big Everton fan. "My brother was more of a rugby player," he added, "but there was always a football to be kicked around when I was growing up. "At the age of six, Alan moved to Northern Ireland with his parents and was soon turning out for the school side.His potential was quickly spotted and he played for the year above his own age group. But Alan’s big break came when his friend’s dad, who was a UEFA coach, put on a coaching session for people to take their badges. "Me and his son used to go up and join in at the end of every training session when there was a little game," said Alan, "after this particular game an old fellow came over and spoke to me and said he was a scout for Middlesbrough and would I be interested in going.
"That was the start of it, when I was about 13 or 14. I was fortunate, I was in the right place at the right time."Alan joined full time at the age of 16 and his first manager was one of the game’s biggest characters of the time – Malcolm Allison. "He was different," said Alan, "he had different ways of training; he used to play table tennis for your reactions. Even then, in the early 1980s he had what he called a movement specialist, basically a fitness coach and reaction coach. He also had a guy named Roger Spry who was an agility coach who had worked at a number of top English clubs as well as in Brazil and with Porto. It’s all the stuff that’s trendy at the moment and it’s funny that we were doing it twenty years ago."Alan made his debut at the age of 17, turning out against Huddersfield. "It went really well," he added, "I had always been one of these people who didn’t have a proper position. – and I made my debut as a centre forward."I didn’t score, though, the goalkeeper had a blinder."
Alan carried on playing as a centre forward until he was 21, although he admits he was never prolific."I scored about thirty-odd in my career and the highest in one season was eleven. "A loan spell at Charlton followed before Alan moved to Manchester City. "I really enjoyed my lifestyle, but absolutely hated my football. I just never settled with the club."When I joined there were a lot of things going on off the field, trying to get Peter Swales out and replace him with Francis Lee. At times we could have been playing tiddlywinks for all the supporters were concerned."Alan won his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in 1992, under manager Jack Charlton. "It came out of the blue really," he added.One of the highlights of Alan’s career should have been the World Cup in America. "I played in all the qualifying games, but had a bit of a dip in form and didn’t play in any of the games at the finals. It was nice to see behind the scenes of one of the biggest competitions in the world, but the overall feeling was one of frustration. "After a couple more loan spells at Bolton and Bradford, Alan’s next move – to St Johnstone as a player coach - came out of the blue. And that’s where he first encountered Alan Preston.
"I just hit it off with everybody straight away. My time at Manchester City had been dreadful and I just ended up with a smile on my face again and really enjoyed my football. "There was a group I got on really well with, Alan, Paul Kane and Roddy Grant. Alan knew I was staying quite a lot by myself and he was the one to invite me down for a night out or something to eat or whatever. "Since then, we’ve been thick as thieves. "After that, Alan applied for the manager’s job at Clyde and, much to his amazement, was appointed to the post. "I loved it. For two-and-a-half years everything went really well. Last year we fell at the last hurdle. No disrespect to John Robertson and the people at Inverness, but we lost it rather than they won it. "Some people might wonder why, having tasted management, Alan is now operating as an assistant at Livingston. "I had very little coaching experience and that’s the reason why I have done it. And also the chance to work with Alan. The two of us have always said that if we got a good job we would try and take the other one with us. As soon as Alan got the job he rang me and asked if I would come. I said yes straight away and didn’t have to think about it."Alan reckons Livingston have assembled a very good bunch of players. "We’ve also got good youngsters," he added, "and I’m sure we’ll get five or six out of the under 19s.
"The first team squad have gelled together pretty quickly, but there’s still a bit to do yet for us to get our ethos or way of playing across to the players."Alan anticipates a fight on Saturday, but says Livingston will be up for it. "I watched the a couple of times this season. "They have always done pretty well against ourselves, but we will be able to match their fight. "Alan has no doubts about Livingston’s ambitions for the season. "We have to finish in the top six," he stated, "we should do and must do."Having played under a host of big name managers, Alan reckons that Bruce Rioch was the best of the bunch. "He was the one who took us away from the jumpers for goalposts sort of things and actually had us being organised," he added.
When he’s not playing football, Alan likes to play golf and, surprisingly perhaps, loves going shopping or to the supermarket.
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