NEW head coach Pete Russell has vowed to generate plenty of excitement among the Purple Army after he was brought in to lead the Braehead Clan.

Russell (pictured above) joins from Elite Ice Hockey League rivals the Milton Keynes Lightning, where he had worked as head coach for the past three years.

The 43-year-old Scot has also coached the Bracknell Bees, Slough Jets and Swindon Wildcats in the EPL, winning the play-offs and cup on two separate occasions.

Since 2015, Russell has also been head coach of the Great Britain national team, winning gold at the World Championships last year.

He insists the opportunity to join the Clan was too good to turn down.

Russell said: “I’ve been away from Scotland for a long time and I almost got the chance to come last year but the timing wasn’t right for me and my family.

“Coming from the West of Scotland, coming to the Clan is a dream move for me. My mum and dad live 35 miles from the rink and I’ve got family in Glasgow, so selfishly it wasn’t something I could turn down.

“For me, it’s about building relationships with the fans and getting the players and fans together with an exciting, hard-working, blue collar brand of hockey.

“I want to bring people into the arena and help get them off their seats. When that building gets going, it can be a cauldron and I’m excited to join the Clan.”

Russell takes over as head coach from John Tripp, who left Braehead last month after the club failed to reach the Elite League play-offs for the first time.

Gareth Chalmers, the Clan’s hockey and operations director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Pete and his family to the Braehead Clan.

“We thought it was very important to appoint someone who is well established in the British game, someone who not only knows the EIHL but also has a strong connection to Glasgow.

“In appointing Pete, we have the Clan’s first ever Scottish head coach, someone who already understands the demands of being head coach of a Glasgow sports team.

“After discussions with Pete, it was very apparent he shares the passion of the Purple Army in competing for major trophies.

“Work is already well under way for the 2018/19 season and Pete has already started the process on recruiting his main targets.”