The Scottish Football Association has appointed Tony Docherty as head coach of the Scotland Under-21 team, with former Hearts manager Steven Naismith brought in as his assistant.
Docherty, 55, takes over a role that had been held by Scot Gemmill for close to ten years. The former Dundee and Ross County manager arrives with a background in coaching at both national and club level, having previously formed part of Gordon Strachan's staff with the senior Scotland side. He has also held assistant roles under Derek McInnes at both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Naismith, 39, joins the Under-21 setup having spent close to a year as assistant to Steve Clarke with the senior national team. Clarke departed his position after Scotland's World Cup campaign concluded, and Sebastien Pocognoli was subsequently confirmed as his replacement at the helm of the senior side.
Speaking after his appointment, Docherty expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity and praised his new assistant. "I am looking forward to getting straight to work and I'm delighted I'll be joined by Steven, who I have so much respect for as a coach, as a player, and as an individual," Docherty said.
Docherty also detailed the process that led to his appointment, revealing he held extensive discussions with the Scottish FA's chief football officer before meeting the new senior team boss. "I had several lengthy conversations with [Scottish FA chief football officer] Craig Mulholland and then met Sebastien Pocognoli as part of the process. Everyone is aligned on creating a clear national team and player identity and about doing everything we can to improve every aspect of the national game," he said.
The new Under-21 boss also spoke about a broader vision that extends beyond his immediate remit, referencing a fresh approach to collaboration between the national setup and Scottish clubs. "I'm equally enthused by the challenge of supporting our clubs, in a unique new initiative, ensuring we all work together creating real growth," Docherty added.
He went on to stress the importance of shaping a positive environment for young players coming through the ranks, framing his role as central to the development pathway for the next generation of Scottish internationals. "It's up to us to make sure the national team experience is the best that it can be, while pushing young Scottish players to be the best they can be," he said.
Docherty's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Scottish football, with the governing body in the process of reshaping its coaching structure from the senior team down through the age groups. The alignment between Pocognoli's vision for the senior side and Docherty's approach with the Under-21s is expected to form a key part of that strategy, as the SFA looks to build a more consistent identity across its national teams.
Naismith's move into the Under-21 fold also represents a shift in focus after his stint alongside Clarke at senior level. His experience managing at club level with Hearts, combined with his recent exposure to international coaching, positions him as a significant addition to Docherty's backroom team.
With Gemmill's near-decade-long tenure now over, attention turns to how quickly Docherty and Naismith can implement their ideas and continue the development of Scotland's emerging talent, as the pair look to build on the foundations laid by their predecessor while introducing their own methods and philosophy to the age-group setup.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.