STEPHANE ADAM'S amiable tones betray him as a well-grounded individual, so it is therefore no surprise that he has slid quietly back into Scottish football at Kilmarnock.

The Frenchman, whose image adorns the floodlight stanchion between Tynecastle's Roseburn and Wheatfield stands, has engaged in a reunification with Jim Jefferies in Ayrshire, initiating what he intends to be a productive coaching career.

Kilmarnock's youth side will now benefit from the continental coaching influence of Adam twice a week after Jefferies and his assistant, Billy Brown, came to a gentleman's agreement with their former striker, who returned from France to live in Edinburgh in January.

Coaching the Kilmarnock kids provides Adam with an inlet to a working environment he has been desperate to penetrate. He left Hearts and returned to his native land four years ago, retiring from the game soon after.

"I have spent the last three years in France getting all my coaching qualifications," said the Frenchman, now 36. "I'm not sure what the equivalent is in Scotland, but in France I am qualified to coach players up to under-21 level.

"I don't have a contract with Kilmarnock because my relationship with Jim and Billy is excellent. I spoke to them last week about this and they have given me the opportunity to practise my coaching.

"I am involved with the youth team and I'm taking some training sessions a couple of days each week. Jim and Billy said I could be good for them because I would bring a change of ideas and present something different. It's also a good arrangement for me because I get the chance to learn as a coach until I find a club to work with."

No attempt is made to mask Adam's desire for that club to one day be Hearts. He will, of course, forever be synonymous with the club's 1998 Scottish Cup victory, a central reason behind the erection of the aforementioned poster at Tynecastle.

In a sense, Adam has already returned to the employ of the Gorgie club through his recent involvement with Hearts World, the internet broadcasting service which goes out through the official club website.

"I am enjoying that because Hearts is the club I love in Scotland," he went on. "I played for them for five years and know them very well. I would love to get involved with them again as a coach but that is a long way off. They have good coaching staff there at the moment who are doing just fine.

"It's a new era for Hearts with their new chairman and players, and it's a fresh beginning for me too because I am working again in Scotland.

"It wasn't a surprise to me that Jim and Billy agreed to let me work with them. They are the guys who brought me to Scotland originally and I love it here. They have masses of experience and that is the type of people you want to learn from."

With the Hearts colony at Rugby Park having inducted its new member, the potential for ribbing around the club has also increased. It's not quite a case of jobs for the boys where Jefferies is concerned, but the maroon tint to Kilmarnock's jerseys is becoming stronger by the season.

As well as the manager and his assistant, Gary Locke, pictured, Allan Johnston and Gary Wales all have strong connections to the west side of Edinburgh. "It's very interesting at times when I am down at Kilmarnock and the reception I got made me very happy," said Adam.

"Gary Locke I know very well because I played with him. Allan Johnston I didn't play with but I know him well too. The other players talk about the situation because of all the former Hearts boys now at Kilmarnock and there are a few jokes made about Jim and Billy helping me out. But we had a good time together at Hearts, winning the cup and qualifying for Europe regularly. Jim and Billy have got Kilmarnock into a good position in the table, particularly when you remember they have very little money to spend on big players.

"The spirit on the training ground and in games is fantastic. I was at the game on Saturday against Dunfermline and I think it was very clear how well the team is playing, so I'm very happy to be involved with them."

The progress of both Edinburgh clubs in this season's Scottish Cup has evoked much emotion in Adam, who executed what proved to be the winning goal against Rangers in the final of the competition eight years ago.

Naturally, his initial craving is for hands-on involvement rather than being a frustrated spectator when the Capital sides meet in the semi-finals next month. But the Frenchman's humble attitude allows him to graciously accept the fact that he will at least be guaranteed a ticket.

"I'm too old now so it is too late for me as a player, but I will still be there as it's part of my job now. It's great to see the Edinburgh teams challenge the Glasgow teams because for years it has been boring with Rangers and Celtic winning everything.

"This season is different; Hearts and Hibs are pushing for Europe, Kilmarnock are involved in that also and the end to the season will be exciting.

"I will always remember the Scottish Cup. It was a fantastic time in my career, not just my time in Scotland but overall. I won the French Cup in 1996 with Metz and that was a fantastic experience. But what I remember from 1998 in Edinburgh was the joy on the thousands of Hearts fans' faces.

"To be a winner with Hearts and see how important it was to everybody connected with the club, that will live with me forever. Each player was given two identical shirts from that game in case we wanted to swap one. But I kept both of them.

"I later gave one to my best friend and I kept the one I played in. It's a fantastic souvenir and I won't be letting go of it."

Hearts legend or not, come the morning of Sunday, April 2, Adam will find himself in the same predicament as every other Tynecastle supporter, attempting to make his way from his Edinburgh flat along the chaotic M8 to Hampden Park.

"I will try to get there as best I can but there will be so many people tackling the M8 that morning. It's not a good idea to play the match at Hampden but I will be heading to the game like all the other supporters. I will have to leave very early that day."

Never one to abuse his social standing amongst idolisers, Adam's attitude is commendable. But perhaps just this once he could be advised to make use of his new connections down in Ayrshire. A western bed for the night on April 1 might be a smart move.

Taken from the Scotsman