David Weir says he does not care about players' nationalities, only their abilities, after moving into management for the first time at Sheffield United.
The 43-year-old was appointed by the League One team last week, and has been in touch with his former Rangers manager, Walter Smith, and Everton manager, David Moyes. With Scots Neill Collins, Ryan Flynn, Kevin McDonald and Jamie Murphy at the club, former internationalist Weir said: "I'm not going to bring four or five Scottish players down, that's not a way of working.
"If you can add people who are different, who can help you, and if they fit the criteria budget-wise, then definitely I will look at it. But I just want good football players and good people, whether they are Scottish, English, Irish, Welsh, whatever."
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall turned down a move to Sheffield, apparently because of budget cuts, and former Australia coach Graham Arnold labelled the club "prehistoric" after being interviewed.
But Weir, who was interviewed by Everton for a move up from his coaching role to take over from Manchester United-bound Moyes, insists his experience in talks with owner Kevin McCabe left him with nothing but enthusiasm for the task ahead.
"If I am being honest, I wasn't sure initially – until I met the people," Weir added. "When I met them, I thought 'this is right'. I just got a good feeling. There was a harmony in what they were trying to do and what I wanted to do within the football club. Coming out of the meeting I thought 'I really hope I get this'. Both [Smith and Moyes] said 'go for it', but I had pretty much made up my mind."
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