Alex Miller out of the cold to manage in... Siberia

The 62-year old Glasgow-born former defender, who spent 15 years of his club playing career with Rangers, has been appointed at the helm of the remote Siberian outfit FC Sibir, based in Russia’s third city of Novosibirsk.

Miller said yesterday he has never faced a greater challenge, as he stands tasked with lifting the team back into the Russian premier league. And to his surprise, the former Liverpool assistant manager found facilities in remote Novosibirsk to be better than some English Premier League clubs. “Early in January I came to Novosibirsk, met the mayor of the city, got acquainted with the clubs’ infrastructure and was quite impressed with it,” he said.

“They have an arena, very good training camp and even a stadium under a roof. Not all English Premier League clubs enjoy such nice conditions.”

He is unconcerned that because of the intense cold – with winter temperatures dipping below minus 30C – the team plays on artificial grass.

“It’s an artificial pitch but of high quality. I do not see any problems with it. We just need to take it into consideration in training.”

Miller said he was fascinated by the task offered by the job, three time zones east of Moscow.

“Their offer is a serious challenge for me,” he admitted. “I would like to use my knowledge and skills to help Novosibirsk to return to the premiership.”

He has already served notice to the local Siberian authorities that he needs a rouble kitty to fulfil the aim of promotion. “To achieve that goal we need a united effort from the city authorities, board of directors and all the people who work in the club,” he warned his new paymasters from Turkey, where the club have decamped for midwinter training.

The club admitted yesterday that it had to work hard to attract Miller, who was an assistant to Rafa Benitez when Liverpool tasted Champions League glory in Istanbul in 2005.

Referring to the veteran Scot’s time at Liverpool under both Gerard Houllier and Benitez, FC Sibir director Stanislav Zhuravski said: “Miller attracted us with his experience of working with one of the top clubs in the best league in the world. He also has a vast expertise in scouting. He is interesting for us not only as professional football coach but as an organiser of the club’s structure.”

Miller finally agreed to sign on Sunday after negotiations went on beyond midnight in Moscow, said sources at the Siberian club.

FC Sibir played in the top flight of Russian football until last season when they were relegated. They see Miller as the man to ensure a swift return to the Premier League. Currently fifth in the First Division, they are seen as having an outside chance of promotion.

Miller will have a job on his hands just to conquer the language barrier. FC Sibir’s players are mostly Russians, with several Czechs and one notable Macedonia player – the captain Veličce Šumulikoski.

One of Miller’s first jobs will be to sort out the future of Šumulikoski, who was involved in an incident with police while back in his homeland last week. The midfielder was in trouble last week when he allegedly attacked a man while drunk in hometown Struga, then verbally abused police officers and refused to take a breath test.