Most concerned practicalities, but the two most important for me were the boys' education and how they would integrate into the school.

We didn't want their academic work to suffer as a result. And if we were bringing new pupils into the school at third- and fourth-year levels, how would they mix with the rest of the pupils? It is quite difficult to move school at that age.

We were very keen they should be St Ninian's pupils who happened to play football, rather than Celtic youth players attending the school. It wouldn't work if our pupils didn't embrace it, or if we had boys walking around with the attitude: 'Look at me, I play for Celtic.'

To be honest, it didn't create the stir I thought it might. On the first morning, when they were out the back of the school being coached, I thought all the pupils would stop and watch them. Instead they just carried on walking into school.

We're now coming to the end of the third year of the project, and in almost every case the boys' exam results have been better than their parents thought they would be at the outset. They have very healthy and focused lifestyles – which, despite their demanding schedules, seems to have enhanced their education.

I'm not saying they will all end up being high flyers educationally, but what we can now state with certainty is that this project is not adversely affecting their academic work. If it was, I wouldn't continue to be involved with it.

I didn't know Chris McCart before this project started, but what impressed me most about him was that he was saying the boys' education was the most important thing. It was the opposite of the culture that education doesn't matter if you want to become a professional footballer.

It was almost as if Celtic's aims were identical to ours. They were doing it through football and we were doing it in education, but the objects were shared: to turn out well-rounded individuals who can make their way in society.

Chris won't make changes to the programme without consulting me to ensure their education isn't affected. For me, that's key.