St Mirren v Celtic: “It’s the Friday night lights live on TV,” New Saints boss can’t wait

RATHER than getting ready for Coleraine’s match the weekend against Ards as expected, Oran Kearney is instead preparing to face Celtic this evening as the new St Mirren manager, and he can’t quite believe it.

It is, as they say, a funny old game. The Irishman looked forward to the challenge of facing fellow countryman Brendan Rodgers in his first match and the former school teacher hopes he can pass his first test with flying colours.

“It’s a surreal scenario. To be preparing for a game against Celtic, when it should have been Ards on Saturday is crazy.

“At times I am still pinching myself. Did I ever think anything like this would happen to me? It’s hard to say. But now that it’s real, I’m not going to be standing ogling Brendan on Friday night and looking for autographs.

“However, I will have an immense amount of pride to stand on the touchline and manage my team for what I hope is the first of many times. I won’t lie, when the team comes out and the stadium is bouncing, it’ll be a helluva buzz.

“It feels almost poetic that it’s Celtic in the first game. Being at home against the league champions is the perfect way to start.

“It’s the Friday night lights live on TV. If players aren’t up for that and ready for it, then I don’t know.”