Peter Grant has clocked up 10,000 miles just to keep his eye in

Peter Grant is taking in more games than most managers.

Peter Grant could have been holding the reins at Newcastle United during Alan Pardew’s stadium ban.

Instead, he’s spending his own savings to ensure he keeps his finger on the pulse as he awaits a return to management.

Grant was Pardew’s trusted assistant at West Ham before leaving to embark on a managerial career of his own.

The Magpies boss did attempt to rekindle their working relationship years later, but the former Celtic midfielder was already working with Tony Mowbray.

Had Grant not turned down that offer, he’d more than likely found himself holding the fort during Pardew’s three-game stadium ban for headbutting Hull City’s David Meyler.

“I had a great time working beside Alan,” says Grant. “He’s a fantastic guy and we had some great times together at Upton Park.

“He signed some unbelievable footballers for the club the pick of the bunch being Carlos Tevez and to work with world-class players like him was unbelievable and a great learning curve for me.

“I left to manage Norwich City, but Alan was kind enough to pick up the phone and ask me to assist him further down the line.

“I was already working under Tony by that stage, and loyalty is really important to me. So I had to politely decline.

“He’s enduring a difficult few weeks right now, but he’s a strong character and he’s built a fine side at St James’ Park.”

Grant has been out of work for a year, but he’s still taking in more matches than most top-flight managers.

And the 48-year-old hopes his hard work will be rewarded when he finally finds himself back in football.

Grant spends almost all of his spare time travelling up and down England to take in matches, or jumping on a flight to Europe to try to keep track of the young emerging talent on the Continent.

If he isn’t doing that, then the chances are he’ll be putting on a coaching session for aspiring young managers and coaches, or visiting highly-respected figures in the business to pick their brains.

“You’ll hear people who either are, or who have been, out of the game talking about how they enjoyed the break,” says Peter.

“I’m exactly the opposite. I’ve hated every minute of not working.

“That’s the truth. I miss it like mad. You can keep yourself as busy as you possibly can, but nothing comes close to matching the feeling of getting out on to the training pitch with players.

“It’s just over a year since I walked out on Nottingham Forest along with Alex McLeish, and this has been my longest spell out of the game.

“I have had offers to get back into football during that time, but they’ve just not been right for one reason or another.

“People who know me know I need to give 100%, and I won’t do it unless that’s the case.”

With the man who succeeded McLeish at the City Ground, Billy Davies, sacked by Forest in midweek, Grant knows the queue for prospective management posts is getting longer.

He isn’t, though, the type to sit back feeling sorry for myself and waiting for the phone to ring.

His CV certainly makes great reading. A lifelong Celtic fan, Peter made over 350 appearances in the Hoops, winning League and Scottish Cup medals plus two Scotland caps.

He was assistant manager at both Bournemouth and West Ham before going out on his own at Norwich, then assisted Tony Mowbray at West Brom before following him back to Glasgow’s East End.

The Celtic legend then teamed up with former Rangers boss McLeish at Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Forest.

“I’m keeping that busy I’m not too sure my wife Lorraine has realised I’m not working,” laughs Grant. “I’m constantly on the go and you’ve got to stay busy and motivated.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been asked to put on some coaching sessions by Jim Fleeting and Donald Park at the SFA.

“Down in England, the League Managers’ Association have been great with me as well, and asked me to do the same in England.

“I’m also constantly on the road watching matches. I’m just about to go over 100,000 miles in my car and it’s only two years old!

“There have been times when I’ve flown across to the likes of Holland to take in a few games.

“You can fly there on a Saturday morning, take in two games and another two the following day before flying home on the Sunday night.

“That’s eight teams you have managed to cast your eye over and possibly 100 individual players.”

As enthusiastic as ever, Grant completely understands why some of the most successful managers in Europe have continued to work, even though they’re millionaires.

“When you are used to being involved in football, it is all you know and love,” he says.

“You look at Sir Alex Ferguson and how long he went on for. He delayed his retirement and I can see why he did that.

“There really is nothing to compare with training, preparing and taking part in matches.

“You could be a multi-millionaire and still want to be involved in football.

“It’s just the love of the game and the buzz of being involved.”