FOR the best part of four years Mark Wilson enjoyed a ringside seat for the never-ending and always entertaining lightweight title fights between Gordon Strachan and Aiden McGeady.

There was only going to be one winner and yet the young battler returned for more and then some more after that. When he and his manager weren't mentally and physically going at one another, McGeady tried his luck abroad and then against someone who even the famously fiery Strachan thought twice about taking on.

Wilson, the former Celtic and Dundee United player, was speaking yesterday at Broadwood Stadium at the launch of the DPS Player Showcase, organised by PFA Scotland, which the Herald revealed last week would give out of contract players the chance to train and play in a trial game, plus much more, as they attempt to revive their careers.

He spoke very well on the subject as it happens. However, the 31-year-old really got going when was asked about his former manager and team-mate, who will be on opposite sides at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Wilson was a first hand witness as the two men, who are peas in a pod it must be said, rubbed each other up the wrong way no matter how many games, titles and trophies were won with Celtic. It all came to a head in December 2008 after a home draw with Hearts when Strachan made it clear he wasn't overly impressed by his winger's work rate. Young Aiden respectfully disagreed.

"They didn't get on too well. It was a clash of personalities. I think Aiden was probably like Gordon was when he was younger," said Wilson quite accurately. "Aiden's a good guy but he's such a cheeky guy that would cause a fight anywhere.

"He's likeable but it all kicked off after that game and got a bit out of hand. It wasn't a scuffle but Aiden got out his seat and there was a coming together, and to be fair to Gordon he handled it perfectly - the way any top manager would.

"He suspended Aiden for two weeks and we ended up winning at Ibrox during that time - which didn't please Aiden! He was probably hoping for us to get beaten without him! Sometimes your instinct is to stop a fight - at others you let it go! It depends who it is. It's entertainment because you get on the phone to your mates right after and say 'you'll never believe what happened here."

It's all good clean-ish fun and adds to the hype surrounding the Republic of Ireland and Scotland European Championship qualifier in Dublin on Saturday evening.

To be fair to McGeady, he has since credited Strachan for making him a better player. But it would not be stretching things to suggest that both would quite like to put one over each other this weekend.

"Revenge? Aiden is probably got to look at it like that," said Wilson "He'll be thinking he can put one over on Gordon. He'll be disappointed by the way he played at Celtic Park. There was a bit of booing going on as well because of his choice of selection. But he's on his home turf this weekend so he'll look to perform much better."

Strachan wasn't the only one who McGeady, hardly a bruiser, decided to take on. The venue is Denver, the time a pre-season tour and Wilson takes up the story.

He recalled: "We went on a night out and were told to stay together, which we mostly did. Most of us went home at the end of the night but three didn't stay with the group. Aiden was one of the lads who stayed out and ended up getting involved with guys at a hot-dog stand, believe it or not.

"Aiden woke up the next day with a black eye and obviously Gordon wasn't happy. We flew to Chicago after that and Aiden was made to wear dark sunglasses and wasn't allowed to train."

But the craziest of the lot was surely when McGeady had a disagreement with Artur Boruc at the training ground.

"To be fair to Aiden it wasn't his fault - that time was the other psychopath's fault," said Wilson. "Artur ran at Aiden and tried to punch him and Aiden ducked.

"The pair got split up and they came into the changing room. Aiden was then sitting at his locker and Artur went over to him to say sorry. He held out his hand, Aiden went to shake it, and Artur whacked him. It was totally out of order, terrible, but that was the kind of fella Artur was. He was always on the edge. You didn't ever know what to say to him."

Wilson wasn't just in Cumbernauld to hold court, although he did that splendidly, he was promoting the PFA initiative that which he hopes will help younger players find a club.

Wilson, who left Dumbarton last month, said: "I've found myself without a club a few times in recent years and it has been difficult. That is coming from me who played for Celtic and I am still pushing to get a new club.

"So for the younger guys, it is almost impossible. So things like this when they can come for a week of training with different coaches is great. For a lot of these guys, they have been full-time and a new manager comes in, and maybe his coaching methods don't suit that player or maybe the manager holds a grudge and doesn't give him a chance. It's a good thing to be involved with."

And at least he can tell the young guys never to take on your all-powerful manager and try not to anger the goalie who has a screw loose.

If you are interested in the training camp please contact michelle@pfascotland.co.uk. For the players availability list go to http://pfascotland.co.uk/player-availability/