NEVER go back to an old love, it’s like reading a book over and over again when you already know how it ends.

An intriguing quote which obviously big Alex McLeish has never encountered. For he has dived in studs up back into his old job as Scotland manager, much to the chagrin of many.

I will be kind to my old gaffer and say the reaction to his appointment has been a tad lukewarm.

Read more: Alex McLeish on his Scotland return, Scott Brown staying on, reaching Euro 2020 and Sir Alex Ferguson's backing​

Alex has a big task to change the opinion of the majority who see him as a busted flush. Yesterday’s man. Not to mention their contention that he walked out on his country.

I can fully understand that fans will still be angry about that but you need to remember that not only was it a chance to earn himself four or five times his salary, but it was also a huge opportunity to test himself in one of the biggest leagues in the world.

Like it or not club football now trumps international football in every facet. There is too much money involved and unfortunately that has diluted the international scene.

That said, I have absolutely no doubt that Alex McLeish will be successful and take us back to the top table of international football.

But first a disclaimer: Alex is not my mate so this is no cosy old pals’ act. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in more than a decade. I am purely expressing my opinion on him as someone who was a player under him.

Nor was he my first choice to be the new manager of our country. But that is neither here nor there now.

Unlike many of those with dissenting voices I have actually worked at close quarters with McLeish and found him to be not only a top-class tactician but more importantly a terrific man manager.

Whether you were a kid like me or a vastly experienced professional like John Hughes you were treated in the same manner – with respect and like an adult. If you did the business for him and reciprocated that same respect he was brilliant to work under.

But he also had a steel. A ruthlessness that if you stepped out of line and let him down you were out of the door. Ask Russell Latapy about that. It didn’t matter who you were. He wasn’t weak in any way. That honestly earned him huge respect within the dressing room.

That in my opinion is the key ingredient to taking charge of a team at international level: man management. You have to have players who are prepared to run through brick walls for you. I would have done that for McLeish because of the gift he has of filling his players with confidence and belief.

Read more: Alex McLeish on his Scotland return, Scott Brown staying on, reaching Euro 2020 and Sir Alex Ferguson's backing​

Alex won’t have the players every day so has to quickly get them all onside. He will do that without issue. The players will love him and how he goes about communicating with them. That is the human side of McLeish but what about his actual record that has been torn to pieces by the naysayers?

Alex McLeish when he was last in the Scotland job had a record of seven wins from 10. Two of his three defeats came against an Italy side who won the World Cup a year later. The win against France in Paris was a tactical masterpiece. So his record at 70% as an international manager is bulletproof.

A few questionable personal decisions like going from Birmingham to their fiercest rivals Aston Villa and then lasting two minutes at the poisoned chalice of Nottingham Forest have put black marks against him for many.

Add to that brief spells in Belgium and Egypt, where incidentally he worked for free before eventually telling them where to go, means he has a lot to prove to many.

He needs to get off to a fast start or the pressure upon him will be instant. But I know Alex McLeish will relish the opportunity to prove people wrong. Absolutely relish it. With his skill and the quality of player he has to pick from now as Scotland manager I wouldn’t bet against him presiding over qualification for a major tournament. That book can finally have a different ending.