Halfway through a conversation with Alex Dyer, a running theme becomes apparent.
The Englishman quit as Steve Clarke’s assistant with Scotland to focus on managing Kilmarnock last summer.
A full year since the two men last worked together, however, Dyer still refers to his former colleague by just one word. Gaffer.
Steve Clarke's former assistant Alex Dyer speaks about the Scotland boss with huge respect
Dyer sees Clarke as a 'players' manager' and one the squad will always love playing for
‘Steve will always be the gaffer to me,’ Dyer told Sportsmail, ‘No question. He always has been and he always will be. I spoke to him the day of the England game.
‘I was coming back from Scotland after doing a bit of media work and I was on the way back down south when I called him before my flight in the afternoon.
‘He took the call and we had a little chat. I always say to him, “Gaffer, I don’t really want to call you when you’re busy”.
‘But he always says, “Any time, you call any time”. So we still have that relationship. The man is top drawer.’
After a deflating 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic, Clarke’s Scots climbed back on the Euro train with a battling draw against England at Wembley.
Back in English football as assistant manager of Colchester United after leaving Killie by mutual consent earlier this year, Dyer watched last Friday’s showdown with just one regret. He would have loved to have been back by the gaffer’s side under the Wembley arch, playing his part in a memorable night.
He is currently the assistant manager at Colchester having left Kilmarnock by mutual consent
‘Yeah, 100 per cent I would like to have been part of that,’ he admitted. ‘Who wouldn’t?
‘I knew when I took the Kilmarnock job that I would have to give up the Scotland role, but that’s a sacrifice you have to make if you want to manage.
‘You want to have your own team and put your own ideas out there — that’s just the way it is.
‘But I don’t have any regrets about the course I took. I have always kept in touch with the gaffer and if there was a chance to go back then, of course, I would like that. But I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work with Steve.’
Born in East London, Dyer spent his entire playing career in the English game before working as a PE teacher.
His relationship with Clarke began at West Ham United, where he progressed to become reserve team coach. A conversation with Clarke, then the assistant manager to Gianfranco Zola, ended with an informal agreement to work together again one day.
The chance finally came when the Ayrshireman returned home to manage Kilmarnock in October 2017, retaining Dyer as his Scotland assistant on a part-time basis two years later.
The pair's relationship began when Clarke was an assistant to Gianfranco Zola at West Ham
‘The gaffer knows I am hard-working and loyal and we have kept in touch down the years,’ said the 55-year-old.
‘His strengths are trust and loyalty. He is such a good coach, but it’s harder to be good manager than it is a good coach
