Scott Arfield on management ‘chaos’ factor and giving youth a chance at East Fife

New East Fife player-boss Scott Arfield says that the “chaos” of being at the helm only made him more eager to find his first taste of management after an interim spell in charge of Livingston.

The former Rangers and Falkirk ace, 38, was named the Fifers’ new gaffer on Sunday evening after the departure of Dick Campbell last month.

And he will take charge of the Bayview team for the first time this Saturday at home to Peterhead in Scottish League One.

Scott Arfield on ‘chaos’ of management

On his short interim stint at Livingston, Arfield admitted: “I just loved everything about it. I loved the chaos of it. I loved getting thrown into it. I have spoken to so many ex-players who have told me they thought they would want it and then when they got thrown into it found they didn’t want it.

“It went the opposite way with me. It just ignited something in me that I knew was in there. But I didn’t know how big the fire was. When I was looking back over the summer at all these valuable experiences - dictating things, coming in at half-time and trying to assess the problems, seeing it from a completely different side from playing – I recognised that it ignited something in me.

“I was just waiting for the right opportunity. I didn’t want to rush into any opportunity, hence the reason why I am here in November. It is the perfect scenario and hopefully I can repay the faith that East Fife showed in me.”

Arfield has already said that hopes to bring an attractive brand of football to Methil, and he is also hoping to give youngsters a chance at East Fife.

He said: “The best thing you can give young players is a platform to perform and get eyes on them. Under-23 football down the road and reserve team and B team football just doesn't quite give you what men's football gives you.

“I remember when I was at Falkirk first time around. Yogi (John Hughes) and Brian Rice at Falkirk travelled all about the country with not a big budget whatsoever. They were ducking and diving a bit like Del Boy to try and get the best deals. So that'll be my thought process, to recruit the best players.”

The Fifers currently have a co-op deal with Scottish Premiership side Hearts, with Connor Dow and Liam Walker on loan. And Arfield says that the duo will get more of a chance under him - if they show that they can compete with the rough and tumble of league football.

He explained: “We've got these Hearts boys (Connor Dow and Liam Walker) here, but they’re not getting enough eyes on them and they’re not growing. So Hearts are obviously going to be thinking, ‘Why are we giving you these players where we could just keep them training here?’.

“There's no obligation on me to play them, but they're at Hearts for a reason. They'll certainly have a point to prove with me. As I say, they're obviously there for a reason. Whether they can get up to a physicality to play in this league is a different matter.

“But the technical ability is there. That's another thing I need to look at - to see if they're good enough to put the current team out.”