NEW Morton first team coach Darren Taylor is looking forward to returning to the dugout after having his new role officially confirmed yesterday.

The 47-year-old worked with Ton manager Ray McKinnon before at Brechin City, Raith Rovers and Dundee United, and he is someone he has known for over 30 years after being friends since childhood.

Having last worked with McKinnon as the head of football operations at Tannadice, focusing mainly on the club’s recruitment, Taylor is thrilled with his new job at 
Cappielow.

He told the Tele: “I was initially a first team coach at Dundee United, and then we did a change. 

“I had previously worked part-time at Dundee United because of my business interests.

“But I relinquished my business interests and took on the full-time role which was head of football operations, which predominantly focused on recruitment.

“I’m available now with no other work commitments, and I’ll be here full-time.

“It’s certainly more of a practical job now and a lot of it previously was planning, going to games, recording data and scouting.

“I did miss the match day feeling when you’re in the dugouts, that’s when you get the thrill from it.

“Every job I’d had before with the gaffer I’d always been in the dugout on his right-hand shoulder.

“We had the bounce game against Motherwell on Tuesday and it was just great to be involved again, I really enjoyed it.”

But Taylor also insisted their relationship at Morton would be professional, and the pair were in contact when McKinnon was being interviewed for the manager’s job earlier in the summer.

He added: “I don’t do the job because I’m his friend, it’s because I have something to offer. 

“We are the best of friends but it’s very much a professional relationship, it could only work that way.

“It had always been the plan to link up again, obviously firstly he had to get the job, but the plan was to work again and it’s great that it’s at a fantastic club like Morton, and I’m really looking forward to getting to work again.

“It was a very small break from football, but you can never determine when you’ll be back in, so for it to be a short break is excellent.

“It’s been a very busy period and we’re looking forward to the season starting.”