New SFA chief executive has thick skin

New chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, Stewart Regan, is prepared to accept any criticism that may come his way.

The 46-year-old will leave his role with Yorkshire County Cricket Club in October to take up the challenge, but he insisted that he was prepared to take the negative elements highlighted by the previous post holder.

"That goes with the job," he said.

"What I would say is Rome wasn't built in a day. I'm not naïve enough to come in here and say you are going to be instantly successful overnight.

"I do think we need to put a long-term plan together and on the way hopefully there will be some rub-off and we'll start to see some success.

"But don't judge me on instant success; judge me on how things develop and the pipeline that ultimately will be built."

Regan, who played a part in rebranding the Championship during his time with the Football League, admitted that his position with Yorkshire will prepare him for confronting conflict.

"My last two positions have both been jobs where there is a lot of passion, there are a lot of opinions," he said.

"Yorkshire County Cricket Club probably has more opinions than most other clubs around the world.

"I've worked with key figures in the media, we have a working relationship that is about persuasion and influence rather than about this is the way it is going to be.

"The way I want to work is on this common agenda basis - we actually sell ideas rather than tell people 'this is what's happening'. I don't think anyone likes to be told what to do."

The 46-year-old Englishman added: "All I would say is judge me on the development of Scottish football over the next few years.

"Nothing is going to happen overnight. In any new job you need time to put plans into place and make sure people are in key roles with key responsibilities and we start putting that vision into practice.

"I'm prepared for it and we'll cross those bridges when they come along."