Garry O’Connor becomes caretaker boss at Selkirk

CONTROVERSIAL former Hibernian and Scotland striker Garry O’Connor has been named caretaker boss of part-time outfit Selkirk.

O'Connor playing for Morton last year. Picture: Robert Perry

The shock appointment comes after the Borders outfit dismissed manager Steve Forrest yesterday, with the club currently sitting in seventh place in the Lowland League.

O’Connor, 32, will oversee training this evening before acting as player/manager for Saturday’s league fixture against Gretna 2008 at Yarrow Park.

The experienced forward, who won 16 caps for Scotland, joined Selkirk in August 2014 following an ill-fated stint with Greenock Morton and scored 21 goals last season.

He subsequently re-signed for the 2015/16 campaign and was named club captain, however he has made no secret of his desire to break into coaching.

Speaking following the player’s arrival, then-manager Forrest said: “Garry has said to us, ‘I’ll play for nothing, I want to get fit and I really want to coach.’ He wants to learn.”

He now has an opportunity to stake his claim for the top job at Selkirk.

O’Connor boasts a wealth of experience with Hibernian, Lokomotiv Moscow, Birmingham City, Barnsley and Tom Tomsk, but has also courted controversy during a chequered career.