Along road from Hartlepool to the Highlands, but John Hughes is excited by the prospect of life in Inverness.
His predecessor at Caley Thistle, Terry Butcher, was always ready to wax lyrical about life in the Highlands before hurrying down to Edinburgh to take charge of Hibs and Hughes, a passionate and engaging character, believes embracing life in Inverness will help him become successful on the pitch.
The 49-year-old, who has been out of work since being dismissed by Hartlepool United in May, was the surprise choice to succeed Butcher, but his passion for getting to the heart of the club would have undoubtedly impressed club chairman Kenny Cameron and the rest of the Inverness board.
He said: “I’m going to immerse myself in the history and the fabric of the football club. And not just the football club, but the community.
“That’s important. If you don’t do that you’ll fail.
“I had the kids on this morning asking about the Loch Ness Monster. They want to come up and see and they will when the time’s right.
“I think it will suit me being up here being in an absolutely beautiful part of the world. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I have a two-and-a-half year contract and hopefully I am up here for a lot longer than that.
“It is important that the supporters see their manager really has the club at heart, wants to move it on and give it his best shot. It is vital the supporters can relate to me.”
The challenge for Hughes will be maintaining the success achieved by a Caley Thistle side which has punched well above its weight to move to second in the Scottish Premiership as well as the semi-finals of the League Cup and last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
It is no surprise Hughes has already pinpointed club captain Richie Foran as the player he needs to get on side if he wants to maintain those standards.
If Foran buys into Hughes’s vision for Caley Thistle, then the rest of the changing room will likely follow.
Hughes said: “One thing we can’t do is to allow standards to drop. I know Richie Foran and he is the club captain.
“He will be my go-to man in the dressing-room and I know he runs the dressing-room to a standard and level which is required by Inverness.
“I am quite sure he will have one or two lieutenants and I’m sure when Terry and Maurice Malpas were here that the players trained and did everything right.
“When you go out on the pitch you have to give everything you have. That is the bedrock of the game, then players such as Billy McKay can go out and play their football.”
Hughes’s managerial highlights include leading Falkirk to promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2005 and the Scottish Cup final in 2009 but his spells at Hibernian and Hartlepool United were less successful.
He led Hibs to a fourth-placed finish and qualification to the Europa League in his first season in charge, but was dismissed in his second season after a poor start to the campaign.
After a short spell in charge of Livingston, he moved to Hartlepool United last November but could not prevent the English side being relegated to League 2 and his contract was terminated in May.
However, Hughes does not believe he has unfinished business in Scotland and reckons his best managerial days are in front of him.
He added: “I still see myself as a young manager because I played until I was 40.
“I had a good innings and longevity to my career. I am at the stage in my life where I am coming up to 50, but I look after myself and keep myself fit. I feel I am at a good stage and I want to put my enthusiasm and skills into the dressing-room.
“It is important to appreciate what you are doing and if you do something you love and you are getting paid for it then you need to appreciate it.
“That is down to experience, but every one of my experiences has been good.
“I could go into more depth about Hartlepool, but I feel I have had success as a manager – but sometimes you are in the wrong place at that moment in time and you have to roll with the punches.
“Hopefully I am here for well beyond two-and-a-half years and I want to be successful here.
“I have a real feel of what is desired at this club. I can’t wait to go and get my teeth stuck right into it.”