Last Updated: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:30
Peter Grant claims his appointment as Alex McLeish's assistant at Birmingham City is beyond his wildest dreams.
The Blues boss turned to Grant after failing to lure ex-City player Ricky Sbragia from his role as chief scout at Sunderland.
McLeish needed a new right-hand man after Roy Aitken's decision to team-up with David O'Leary again in Dubai.
Grant was delighted to land the jobat St. Andrew's although he admits he nearly didn't make the pre-season trip to China as a contractually wrangle with his former club Celtic had to be resolved first.
He told the Sunday Mercury: "It was incredible. I got the job and I turned up to speak to Alex and I was on the flight. I met him while boarding the flight.
"I parked the car when I got the all clear and literally at 2.20pm I was free to join Birmingham because I hadn't been freed from my contract at Celtic. It was as close as that - either getting on the flight or not getting on the flight.
"It's fantastic to get an opportunity to come out here because of the bond you get when you see players at close hand and you're living in the same hotel. You're around about them all the time and you get to know the individuals.
"Hearing about the job was fantastic news. It came completely out of the blue, pardon the pun. Things didn't work out at Celtic and I was on gardening leave as everybody knew.
"I got a call on the Sunday asking me about the job and, thankfully, on the Sunday evening I got a call back from Alex offering me the job. It happened so quickly.
"To get an opportunity to work with Alex and Andy Watson (first-team coach), an opportunity to come to a club like Birmingham in the Premier League is fantastic, probably beyond my wildest dreams. I played against both Alex and Andy when they were at Aberdeen and I know what they demand. I've been thoroughly impressed with the way they manage and coach."