KENNY Miller sought out the advice and counsel of those in the game whose opinion he respects and values in recent weeks as he weighed up a potential move to Livingston.

The feedback he received from friends and former colleagues was almost all the same – he will be unable to combine being a player with his managerial responsibilities and keep the promoted West Lothian club up in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

“Everyone tries to put you off it when you speak to them, tells you that you can’t do both roles, blah blah blah,” he said. “For every 25 people I spoke to who said I couldn’t, there was maybe one who said I could."

But Miller was never one to plump for the easy option during his playing days, as his move to Celtic after a stint at Rangers proved, and he has accepted the considerable challenge.

The former Scotland internationalist is under no illusions about how demanding the dual role will be, but, after taking charge of his first training session yesterday, is confident he will be able to prove his many doubters wrong.

“I didn’t make the decision based on that,” he said. “There are going to be bumps along the road, there’s absolutely no doubt about it. Until you make the step, it’s a step into the unknown. I will learn in the job. In a month or two I’ll be more familiar with what is required and what the job entails.’

“Everyone chooses a path. To come to a club in the Premiership for my first manager’s job was huge while still being able to play and help the lads on that field of play was a big part of the decision.

“As a player it was great to get out there this morning playing football. In a managerial sense, I really enjoyed what I saw. We will work out how it’s going to work over the coming weeks. I may be on the field more often than not hopefully. Getting someone else into help will be discussed.”

Miller added: “It’s the next stage of football isn’t it? I’ve always seen myself as a manager. I want to be in charge. I want to be the very best. So this is the opportunity to take that first step.

“Will it be hard? Of course it will. But every manager’s job is hard, there are a lot of things to do for different reasons, different pressures, different expectations.

“Every manager that’s in a position will feel the strain at some time and I’ll be no different. It’s about how you deal with that and how you manage it. Will we go through tough spells? I’m sure we will, but as long as we can keep that belief."

Livingston, who won promotion via the play-offs, face the most difficult start possible to their first top flight campaign in 13 years. They will travel to Glasgow to take on Celtic at Parkhead on the day they unveil the league flag next month.

Yet Miller, who is sure to be singled out for abuse from the home support due to the fact that he moved to Ibrox following his season at Parkhead, is positively relishing the prospect.

“I am sure I will get a colourful reception that day,” he said. “But, again, what an opportunity. The boys have worked so hard over two years to win League One and then promotion to the Premiership. They were written off last year, but came through and what is more they came through the play-offs.

“But what a reward for it – going to Parkhead on the opening day of the season. There will be a sell-out crowd. What player wouldn’t want to go and play in that?”

The reaction of the Rangers support when the Ibrox club travel to the Tony Macaroni Arena at the end of September will be more difficult to gauge. Miller was, rightly or wrongly, portrayed as a malevolent presence in the dressing room during the reigns of both Pedro Caixinha and his successor Graeme Murty. He was suspended and fined before leaving Govan last month.

Asked how he thought the would received, he said: “We’ll see. I’d love to think I’d get a good reception. I had a lot of good years at the club, won pretty much everything to be won domestically. I never got the opportunity to acknowledge that at the end of the season, it was taken away from me, but it is what it is.

"If the fans give me a good reception, great. If not? I’ll be focussed on one thing and one thing only that day anyway.”