GEORGE Burley, the Scotland manager, is looking to tap into the inspirational performances of new national hero Chris Hoy at the Olympic Games in Beijing to help galvanise his players ahead of the imminent 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Desperate to guide the Scotland team to their first major football finals since the 1998 World Cup in France, Burley has issued an open invitation to triple gold medal winning cyclist Hoy to meet the international squad, who begin their que
st to make it to the showpiece event in South Africa in two years time with away games in Macedonia and Iceland on 6 and 10 September.
Burley values input from other sports, having utilised the services of former UK athletics coach Frank Dick when he was manager of Ipswich Town and then working alongside England's Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward during his time at Southampton.
Now he hopes Hoy, who returned home to the UK in triumph from China yesterday following his stunning golden hat-trick to add to the title he won in Athens four years ago, can find a slot in his schedule to deliver a pep talk to the Scotland players. "I don't know how his diary is at the moment, but he would be very welcome," said Burley.
"Maybe even at a later date, if he could make it. I certainly think it would be worthwhile. What he achieved in the Olympics was fantastic.
"When you hear motivational talks from other sporting people, it can definitely help. It's something I've looked at before.
"At Ipswich, I had Frank Dick helping us and at Southampton we had Clive Woodward involved for a little while. It is very interesting to hear from people from other sports, to listen to their knowledge on winning medals or being a top class coach in other areas.
"They are very motivated people and players were open to listening to them.
"You need a winning mentality in any sport and these people have that. It shines through when they speak to people."
Burley was speaking as he officially opened the Craig Gowans Football Centre at Falkirk's outstanding training facility at the University of Stirling. Named after teenage player Gowans who died in a tragic accident at Falkirk's former training ground in 2005, the £1 million centre also utilises resources and coaches on the campus which have been used by Hoy and other elite Scottish athletes from other sports.
Gowans' parents, brother and sister were in attendance for yesterday's ceremony and Burley said: "It is very sad for them, but this is a great tribute to Craig.
"His legacy will be for other young players to have a great opportunity and a fabulous facility."
The full article contains 465 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
