ROY AITKEN believes Alex McLeish was the right choice as the Scotland manager because of his vast experience with the national side as a player.

McLeish is the first national team coach since Willie Ormond to have worn the dark blue jersey as a player.

In fact, with 77 caps, he becomes the most decorated Scotland manager of all time in playing terms.

He will be assisted in his new role by Andy Watson and former Scotland skipper Aitken, who is not too far behind McLeish with 57 national team appearances of his own.

And the ex-Celtic star believes such a wealth of experience can only benefit the current crop of players.

"I think it will help us enormously," said Aitken. "One of the reasons I took the job was out of respect for what Alex has done. I've played with him and against him many times and a respect has built up over the years."

The other main contender for the Scotland job, Gary McAllister, was tipped for a role in McLeish's backroom staff and Aitken admits he was as surprised as anyone when he got the call instead.

He said: "It was a very proud moment for me. There was an element of surprise there for me as well. I was out of a job and I had turned down a couple of things that didn't suit me, but this was one I was always going to take."