Ian McNeill has revealed how how discovered Chelsea hot-shot Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

At the start of the Nineties, Ian joined Bruce Rioch as assistant manager at Millwall and he subsequently worked with him at Bolton and Wigan. From chief scout at Bolton he went to Leeds United when George Graham was manager (they went to the same school together), and spotted Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

McNeill said: "I saw him playing non-league in Holland and later in Portugal, I think with Boavista.

"I said to George that I wanted to see him again and Leeds signed him for £1.75m. When George went, I stayed on under David O'Leary. Then I left and became European scout with Norwich City. My last official scouting position was with Wigan and it was a travesty when Bruce Rioch got the sack from there.

"It was last October at Mansfield that I saw Albion play. I was working for Wigan and wanted Bobby Zamora. Brighton were asking £500,000. If we had got him I think Wigan would have been in the First Division by now. I think Zamora is a very good player. He's a bit laid back and reminded me a bit of Bill Curry."

So has Ian retired at long last? Not really. He watches games for Chelsea, although says that he is no longer fully employed. At 69 and 51 years in the game, he's entitled to a rest. But players never really quit.

He said: "I like to get out on a Saturday and not be under the wife's foot.

"I don't ask much out of life, but I would like to get my hands on a video of Brighton's FA Cup replay win over Rotherham at Highbury if only for my grandsons."