1998
Donald Scott LEITCH
Date of birth
October 6th, 1969 - Motherwell
First joined
March 29th, 1996 [loan]
First team debut
March 30th, 1996 vs. Bristol City (Away)
Last match played
April 29th, 2000 vs. Barnsley (Home)
CM
SCOTLANDNo international caps.
Steve McMahon brought Leitch to the County Ground towards the end of the 1995/1996 season. He was made available by his club, Hearts, after an on-pitch incident with one of his team-mates - a fight which resulted in the other player leaving the pitch injured!
Originally signed on loan, Leitch fitted into the side well, and made seven appearances as Swindon won the Second Division championship - making his debut in a 0-0 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate on 30th March 1996.
It was this good run that prompted McMahon to sign him on a permanent basis at the beginning of the following season - Leitch was made available for a cut-price £15,000 after his previous misdemeanours. He played at the heart of the Town's midfield for the next four years - his hard work and tough tackling displays earning him the club captaincy, firstly on a temporary basis when regular skipper Mark Seagraves was injured, and then permanently when Seagraves left at the end of the 1997/1998 season.
During the 1999/2000 season, and with the club in administration and rock-bottom of the table, Leitch made it apparent that he would be unwilling to play Second Division football again. This sparked a £30,000 bid from Portsmouth, which was rejected - finally resulting in Leitch's contract not being renewed at the end of the season.
Playing Record
Senior
| Season | LEAGUE | FA CUP | EFL CUP | OTHER | TOTAL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | |
| 1999/00 | 28 (+1) | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 30 (+1) | - |
| 1998/99 | 23 (+1) | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 24 (+1) | - |
| 1997/98 | 25 (+1) | 1 | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | 27 (+1) | 2 |
| 1996/97 | 36 | - | 1 | - | 5 | 1 | - | - | 42 | 1 |
| 1995/96 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| TOTAL | 119 (+3) | 1 | 3 | - | 8 | 2 | - | - | 130 (+3) | 3 |
Reserve and Youth Team Appearances
Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.
Career details
| Club | Details |
|---|---|
Shettleston Juniors
Shettleston |
1989 (youth) |
Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic |
April 1990 |
Heart of Midlothian
Hearts |
August 1993 ; transferred out (July 30th, 1996) |
Swindon Town
Swindon |
March 29th, 1996 (loan); expired (rptd April 21st, 1996) |
|
Swindon Town
Swindon |
July 30th, 1996 (transferred in , £15,000 ); released (rptd May 9th, 2000) |
Motherwell
Motherwell |
July 1st, 2000 (unattached); retired (2006) |
Ross County
Ross County |
rptd April 18th, 2006 (appointed manager); resigned (rptd April 30th, 2007) |
|
Motherwell
Motherwell |
June 2007 (appointed assistant manager) |
Aberdeen
Aberdeen |
June 2009 (appointed assistant manager); sacked (rptd December 1st, 2010) |
|
Motherwell
Motherwell |
November 2013 (appointed academy director); by mutual consent (December 22nd, 2017) |