To those who suffer from that well-known Lanarkshire affliction that causes those under its command to gravitate towards Fir Park Street every second Saturday in eternal hope and frustration, events over the last few days must have felt like they were simply meant to be.

It was around 11am on Tuesday morning that the claret and amber stars aligned. With a single tweet the news came through that James McFadden, Motherwell’s prodigal son, had returned... err... again.

But this time was different, this time the man who has been a cult hero to those who hold the club dear for the last 15 years was officially announced to have taken the next natural step in this extra-ordinary love affair.

READ MORE: Faddy's French connection still has Chris Cadden buzzing now star is Motherwell No.2The Herald: 28/07/16 .  FIR PARK .  Motherwell assistant manager James McFadden.

Once a youth academy graduate who gallusly jinked his way by defenders with a red stripe on the top of his head and a pony tail flapping in the wind behind him, McFadden has had a record three spells at the club as a player prior to this week’s announcement, at the age of 33, that he is now Motherwell’s assistant manager.

It was not always destined to be so, though. In a strange twist of fate, it was in fact during one of the years away from his spiritual home that the first seeds were sewn in McFadden’s head that a life in a dugout - or more to the point the one with an ML1 postcode -was his destiny.

READ MORE: Faddy's French connection still has Chris Cadden buzzing now star is Motherwell No.2

"When Davie Moyes was at Everton he was the one who told me to get my coaching badges as you never know what could happen. I thought I was too young,” confessed the forward. "It is something that I have always had an interest in and last year I helped Stevie Hammell and Brian Kerr with the under 15s and I enjoyed that.

"Coaching was always something I said if I got the opportunity I would try it.

“It’s definitely come earlier than I would have expected. You can try and plan as much as you want but, especially the older you get, you realise you can’t really do that in football. You never know what’s round the corner.

“It’s earlier than I thought and it’s a bigger job than I thought I would get. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”The Herald: MOTHERWELL SCOTLAND - JULY 26: (L-R) Newly appointed assistant player Manager James McFadden and Manager Mark McGhee during the BETFRED Cup First Round Group F Match between Motherwell and East Stirlingshire at Fir Park on July 26, 2016 in Motherwell, Sco

It took a few years for McFadden to follow the now Sunderland manager’s advice, but it is a path that the former Scotland international is convinced is the right one for him. Now more than ever.

Upon returning to Fir Park back at the turn of the year McFadden threw himself into work with the academy kids. While this involvement no doubt brought his coaching credentials to the attention of Mark McGhee, McFadden’s ‘big break’ was quite literally that.

Back in March he suffered a broken ankle during training that ended his season, and he believes that was the opportunity that opened up the door to McGhee’s coaching team.

“The plan was to go to America and play for as long as I could. It never happened,” explained McFadden, who saw a potential move to Philadelphia Union fall through after a promising trial back in September.

“I came back and picked up an injury, which probably helped in terms of being inconsideration for this job. If I didn’t get injured I’d have been back in every day for pre-season, training away and he might have brought someone else in.The Herald: 24/12/15   .  FIR PARK - MOTHERWELL .  Motherwell's James McFadden previews his side's forthcoming fixture against Dundee United.. (50664059)

“It’s just fate that I got injured and needed another operation. I wouldn’t say it’s just happened because the manager has been thinking about it for a while but the timing has to be right.”

There is something inexplicable that bonds McFadden to this institution that still beats strong in the once industrial heartland of Scotland. It is a powerful calling that is not exclusive to the former Everton and Birmingham City man.

Around him he is surrounded by his former academy mates like Keith Lasley and Stevie Hammell, both of whom are going about their own coaching careers while extending their playing careers. It is an ambition that McFadden also harbours, even if he is now the man who, for the most part, will be shouting instructions from the touch line.

“It’s the ideal place for me to start out in coaching. I started here as a player and I’ve a lot to thank this club for. There’s no better place for me,” said McFadden, who is also registered as a player.

“A succession plan is the right way to go because we have great experienced pros who are all doing their coaching badges. As a club we’d be crazy to discard that, not only for what they bring to the dressing room but also what the likes of Las, big Mick and Hammell bring to coaching with the academy and the Under-20s. You want to keep good guys around. Scott’s doing his badges too. You want to keep these guys involved at the club because they’re learning how to become coaches and our club will benefit from it.”

McFadden’s term as McGhee’s No.2 is only four days in, but already it is hard to get away from speculating about what the future may hold whenever his current gaffer departs.

"I am certainly not trying to get the rid of the manager yet,” he joked. “I’m not looking too far ahead.

"I spoke to Lee McCulloch who has gone in as assistant at Kilmarnock and Davie Weir who is the assistant at Rangers as they are both doing the same job.

"They were full of encouragement and told me to take the job and I had kind of made my mind up anyway but it was nice to get reassurance from the boys that are doing it.

“It was a no-brainer.”