Rio Ferdinand quizzed Selkirk chief about Garry O’Connor

CHAIRMAN Ross Anderson admits he is in no doubt that Garry O’Connor can make Selkirk a household name – because he has already been quizzed about the former Scotland forward by Rio Ferdinand.

Garry O'Connor was named new boss of Selkirk at the weekend.

The 32-year-old was appointed the Lowland League outfit’s new player/manager on Sunday, just 24 hours after suffering a 5-1 defeat to Gretna 2008 as caretaker.

Anderson has already been taken aback by the level of interest generated from O’Connor’s promotion to the dugout and reckons that can only help both on and off the pitch.

Anderson said: “For a small club, Garry has really helped raised our profile massively. I’m involved in business in England and I even got stopped by Rio Ferdinand at QPR’s ground when we had football trials there a wee while back.

Former England skipper Rio Ferdinand. Picture: Getty

“I was wearing a Selkirk polo shirt and he said, ‘have you still got big O’Connor playing for you? How did he even know our background?

SEE ALSO - Garry O’Connor named Selkirk boss on permanent basis

“Since we appointed him, Twitter and Facebook has gone crazy, we had 26,000 hits on social media within 14 hours. It really has pushed the profile of the club and we think on and off the pitch that it will help. We’ve got Lokomotiv Moscow followers on Twitter and Facebook, Birmingham City guys are also asking us about him.

“It was a natural choice to appoint Garry. He’s been at the club for 18 months and we’ve put him through his UEFA B licence course. He is well respected at the highest levels in football, and there are also the managers he’s played under that he can call on for advice and help. He’s still friends with Mixu Paatelainen and there’s also Alex McLeish.

“We’re excited about the prospect of Gary being here long term. With the contacts he’s got, he will attract a very good standard of player to come to the club.”