Scotland boss Alex McLeish issues video appeal to missing Liam Smith to come home

Scotland manager Alex McLeish has issued a personal appeal to help find missing Liam Smith.

Police have shared a video where the Aberdeen FC legend issues a direct message to the 16-year-old football fan, who has been missing since last Saturday.

The Gothenburg Great said: “Liam, if you are watching this message – please come home.”

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Chief Inspector Martin Mackay said: “It is one week today since Liam went missing and I don’t think it would be wrong for me to say his disappearance has significantly affected not just his family and friends but the entire North East community and beyond.

“If you have any information at all which could assist please contact Police on 101 quoting ref. no. 1302 of Nov 18.”

The last recorded sighting of Liam Smith was at Union Square in Aberdeen last Saturday, where he bought a bus ticket for Raemoir Road in Banchory at 1.11pm.

Officers trying to track down the 16-year-old have been unable to confirm where Liam got off due to the faulty camera equipment aboard the 202 Stagecoach vehicle.

The force has confirmed its officers will be in the shopping centre and adjacent bus station as concern grows for the teen.

Officers will also be on board a number of 202 buses and will be speaking to the drivers and passengers.

Specialist searches are continuing in Deeside areas where there will be high visibility patrols in Crathes and Banchory, as well as an incident unit in the latter where the public can pass on any information.

Search helicopters and sniffer dogs scoured Lumphanan earlier this week following a report that the Westhill Academy pupil had been seen in the village, but officers later confirmed that Liam had never been there.

The huge search operation then relocated to Banchory, and attention has now shifted to Crathes after a fellow bus passenger told police they saw Liam leave the coach there.

Liam’s increasingly concerned family have been donated a drone by a local firm, to help in their own search for him.

Yesterday, search teams explored Crathes while the force’s marine unit kayaked along the River Dee from Banchory to Aberdeen.

Liam bought a bottle of Lucozade, a packet of Jaffa Cakes and a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate before catching the bus and police have asked people who may have noticed litter from the items to get in touch.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.