Mulraney: 'There was only ever one candidate for the job'

The Alloa chairman unveiled Peter Grant as the Wasps manager last week and told how he was in no doubt about who to take the reins.

He said: "It's always a challenge, when you're a club the size of Alloa, to get the candidates you want. But we're delighted to get Peter in and we look forward to working together

"While history will tell you that we normally appoint young, rookie-ish managers, we feel as a board that we need someone with experience this time around.

"We only spoke to one candidate and here he is. That was it. We determined who we wanted, as we normally do, and we spoke to one candidate."

Mulraney invited Grant to his home in Clacks for a four-hour chat and later offered him the job.

And while the appointment may have caught most by surprise, the chairman insists they have to be thinking one step ahead.

He told Advertiser Sport: "If you look at the last, now, six appointments – none of them were on the bookies' list.

"That's not deliberate, just that we're always looking for someone a bit different in our managerial appointments.

"This one is no different, we just believe that we needed to tweak our selection criteria this time.

"Ten years ago, Alloa wouldn't have been able to attract a candidate of Peter's standing. He brings a wealth of experience and contacts."

He added: "We understand it's difficult to hit the ground running some times and we support our manager when that happens.

"The environment is right here. Everyone here helps everyone."

It is likely that Grant will be expected to follow, at least in part, the tried and tested Alloa method of utilising the loan market to good effect.

Indeed, Mulraney notes that many clubs eye the club as an ideal venue to bleed talented youngsters ahead of first team action in the top flight.

He said: "At Alloa, we rely heavily on our core of outstanding players, while bringing a handful of really decent young players on loan.

"You just have to look at how those guys have done here over the last few years: Scott McKenna, Liam Lindsay, Stevie May, Jake Hastie, Dario Zanatta – the list is endless.

"So many players have got their move, or big break, off the back of their time here at Alloa.

"That's something we feel we do well. I'm sure Peter will look to continue the model that's the Alloa way."

Meanwhile, it is perhaps no surprise that Paddy Connolly will also stay on as assistant manager at the club.

He has served as the right-hand man to a series of Alloa gaffers, with Mulraney paying tribute to his influence over the years.

The chairman said: "He's been my caretaker manager five times and that's got to be some kind of record in Scottish football.

"Paddy is here because he wants to be and because the manager wants him. Peter was very happy to see him here, as was Jim, Jack [Ross], Paul [Hartley], Barry [Smith] and Danny [Lennon].

"We couldn't be happier that he is staying."