Peter Grant: 'We'll give everything for the supporters'

The 53-year-old was unveiled as Jim Goodwin's successor at the Indodrill Stadium this afternoon and will get to work on Saturday with his first training session.

Grant makes his return to management for the first time since a year at the helm of Norwich City in 2006-2007. He did have a brief spell as caretaker with Fulham in 2015 and has worked as a coach at the highest levels in England.

While the appointment is a departure from chairman Mike Mulraney's tried and tested young-manager formula, Grant insists he will be no less passionate or energetic in his day-to-day interactions with players.

He feels his approach to football has never changed and is adamant the Alloa supporters will see a team laden with the same level of passion that has typified the Wasps in recent years.

Grant said: "I get up every day of my life and live as if it were my last. You give it as much as you can for whoever you are working for, or whatever you represent.

"We'll give everything for the supporters. If it's one man and his dog, so be it, we'll give it our all for them.

"Whether you are a Man Utd fan or an Alloa fan, you still have the same level of passion for your club. And we all owe it to them to do everything we can to win a game and play well."

He added: "Going back to my playing days, I think everyone knows what my game was all about. I wanted to win; I just did not want to lose anything.

"Whether it was my granny I was playing against - it didn't matter; I'd kick my granny to win a game.

"That's the desire that I have - that I've always had. I want to come away on a Saturday night with a smile on my face, having watched my team playing well and winning.

"And if we don't play well, then I still want to win. You never lose that, and I want that winning mentality within the group."

Grant has previously coached with Bournemouth, West Ham, West Brom, Celtic, Birmingham and Aston Villa. 

Most recently, he was a part of Alex McLeish's management team with the Scotland national team.

"That chapter is all left behind," he added. "This is my start, now. I'm the Alloa manager and I'm delighted to be here.

"This is more important to me than anything now, this is where all my energy will go.

"It's my first time going part-time, but, for me, there's no such thing as part-time. If you are a manager or a coach then you are, seven days a week, watching players and preparing for matches."

Grant added that Mulraney and his "enthusiasm for his club" was a huge draw for him at Alloa.

"Everything happened so quick. My oldest boy Peter was coming up to sign for Morton and I got a phone call asking if I would meet with Mike.

"Went over to the house, had a right good chat for about four hours and I could see his enthusiasm for his club.

"He has been terrific over the last few days, though I didn't know him before coming here.

"But I saw the good jobs that Jim, Jack and Paul had done here and I thought they must all have had a chairman that trusted them."

He added: "These previous managers here have all done exceptionally really well - at different times and in different ways.

"Some will maybe say there's a bit of a change in the age of the manager coming in, but I am a worker; I enjoy my football, and it doesn't matter to me where it is."

Grant takes the reins just days before Alloa's return to competitive action with the visit of Elgin City in the League Cup this Tuesday.

The Wasps then face a stern test as they travel to Easter Road to face a Hibs side who are expected to top the group.

More to follow...