SFA chief Peat has no trepidation over McLeish review

SCOTTISH Football Association acting chief executive George Peat insists he is looking forward to the second part of Henry McLeish's Scottish Football Review "without any fear."

The report, which addresses the grassroots game in Scotland, was commissioned by Peat last May, and the first part of the former First Minister's findings were published last month.

McLeish made a series of recommendations aimed at improving Scottish football, including a call for almost half a billion pounds to be spent on facilities for youth and talent development over the next ten years.

"We have already started," said Peat. "The Board decided that (SFA vice-president] Campbell Ogilvie will look after that and he has started work on it."

When it was put to Peat that McLeish's review appeared to suggest that Scottish football is failing, he replied: "That's why I had the idea of bringing Henry into this, because I had the same opinion. He has done the first part of the report and we are looking forward to the second one without any fear at all, I can assure you."

Meanwhile, Peat has revealed the SFA is looking for a candidate with a business background to succeed Gordon Smith as chief executive.

The SFA has formally launched its search for Smith's replacement – after he quit last month for personal reasons – and Peat said the governing body wants to go down a different route this time around.

"We are looking for a business man, someone who has a bit of experience of running a company."