Men who gave us plenty of pointers

Apr 6 2008 Gordon Waddell

Aberdeen V Falkirk Tomorrow, Kick-Off 7.45pm Live On Setanta

JIMMY CALDERWOOD and John Hughes have never hidden their respect for each other, two SPL bosses cut from the same cloth. Tomorrow night they'll be in opposite dugouts trying to shatter each other's top-six dreams. Straight after it they'll be back to picking each other's brains on their football philosophies. Here they tell MailSport's GORDON WADDELL about the bosses they dream of being.

YOGI'S HERO

JOHN HUGHES used to be a painter and decorator - these days he's more interested in building.

And he is modelling his house on the one Jim McLean built at Dundee United.

From the bricks and mortar right down to the homegrown labour, Yogi reckons the Tannadice legend has given him the perfect blueprint to create the same kind of empire at Falkirk.

It took McLean more than a decade to construct his vision in the 70s, hoisting the Arabs from mid-table mediocrity to Scottish champions in 1983, European Cup last four the following year and UEFA Cup Final in 87, all using homespun talent.

Now five years in, Bairns boss Hughes sees his club laying the same foundations.

And although he knows empires don't grow overnight, tomorrow in Aberdeen he wants to see at least another brick in the wall.

A win for Falkirk guarantees them a place in the SPL's top six for the first time, their best finish in the top flight since Jim Jefferies took them to fifth 13 years ago.

Hughes admitted: "I want that top-six place. I want my stadium finished. I want other teams towalk in and say 'This is a club'. And I want it all overnight - but I know it's not that easy.

"That's why I look at United and seemy blueprint. I have ambitions to manage in England but if I was to be here for the next 10 years and still bringing kids through? I'd love to do what McLean did.

"Wego up to Tannadice and walk along to the boardroom, see all the pictures of the stadium developing, the international players they've brought through over the years, all from their own set-up. Why not us?

"United lived within their means for so long, building bits of their stadium when they could, rearing their own players.

"I'm not saying I'm the new Jim - the guy's a legend. I played against his teams. But he laid a template for the rest of us to follow.

"And I hear from people we both know that Jim likes the way our team play and thinks we're doing well - I take a big lift from that."

Hughes may have big dreams but insists he doesn't have his head in the clouds when it comes to Falkirk's ambitions.

He constantly vents frustration at their half-finished stadium and the nick of their pitch. But he knows his - and his club's - limits.

Yogi said: "We have to live within our means, I accept that. I could take all the money and spend it on the first team - but would it get me any further? Probably not. If I did I wouldn't have guys like Scott Arfield, Tam Scobbie, Darren Barr. We wouldn't have the future we do now.

"It's all about finding the balance. We're lucky to have a fantastic benefactor in Sandy Alexander who's building a stand and our base at Stirling. He's unbelievable.

"But I still have a budget and still have to make sacrifices.

"For instance, I could have gone for a player in January but needed another physio so I spent the budget on Kenny Creighton from Gretna.

"I want the best for us from top to bottom and can get it. But it all has to come out of my budget and means I can't get something else.

"Masseur three days a week? Fine. Comes out your budget. Flights and accommodation for trialists? Same. Protein shakes for the boys after training? Huge for me but there's a price to be paid.

"Ultimately though it boils down to this 90 minutes at Aberdeen and if we don't make the top six it will feel like failure."

The Bairns could have eased their top-six worries last weekend when a win over Kilmarnock would have had them almost home and hosed. Instead they need a result at a ground where they haven't won since 1958.

However, Hughes' new-found defensive meanness at least means they'll be harder for Dons to beat.

Praised for his cavalier style earlier in the season, Yogi confessed: "We haven't been as slick but that's six clean sheets out of seven.

"That has to be pleasing and you can see the pride in the defenders, see thempsyching each other up to keep it blank.

"I've even played five at the back recently because we want that top-six spot and I'm prepared to sacrifice something to get it.

"It has worked to a point in that we've become more resolute.

"This is the business end of the season and we have to be more calculated. I just hope it pays off."

CALDERWOOD'S HERO

JIMMY CALDERWOOD'S eyes bulged as Dutch pal Dennis Bergkamp told him Arsenal's dressing-room was awash with drugs - and that Arsene Wenger spent £1million a year providing them.

Sure, they were all legal - but it was a story that saw Calderwood's admiration for the enigmatic French boss skyrocket and it has never come back to earth since.

Of all the lessons he has learned in a 37-year career the ones picked up from Wenger are treasured most.

Caldo, 53, is a sponge for football knowledge, constantly trawling the game for tips and techniques.

But as he found out from Wenger, all the technical expertise won't help unless you can manage people.

The Aberdeen boss said: "The top clubs have all the money but it doesn't matter to them - the football is still most important. That's what makes them so good.

"I was in Birmingham's first team at 17. We had a lot of seasoned pros like Bob Latchford, Kenny Burns, Garry Pendrey. Trevor Francis was 18. He drove into training one day, brand new Jaguar XJS. He was on a huge contract.

"He hadn't even taken the key out the ignition when Latchfordwas giving it 'Gaffer, a word...' - then Burns was in at his back going mental.

"I learned a lesson that day about dressing-rooms. You have to watch what you're doing.

"And that's what makes Wenger such a genius, the way he manages.

"Remember their great back four?

Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, with David Seaman behind them.

"Arsene brings the five of them in. Say they were on 20 grand a week. He tells them he will extend all their contracts to 30 grand a week.

"But then he tells them he'll be signing OTHER guys who'll be earning double because they're better players.

"He said, 'Ultimately you'll earn more because these better players will win you more bonuses'.

"He's brilliant, Wenger. I've been in his company a few times and always learned something. He told us a story about Patrick Vieira that shows what top man management is.

"Vieira got offered fortunes at Juventus, five-year deal, when he had a year left at Arsenal. And Arsene said, 'I love you to death but in a year you probably won't get a new deal because Cesc Fabregas is coming through. If I was you I'd take the millions at Juve'.

"I spoke to Bergkamp about Wenger. He told me Arsenal's dressing-room was unbelievable, awash with drugs - but the right kind! Apparently they spent £1m a year on medical supplies.

"And their analysis is fantastic. Fabregas usually runs 13km a game then twice in a row fell to 11km so they took him out because he needed a rest.

"That's management - the ability to have faith in what you're doing."

Calderwood's side have scaled astonishing highs in Europe this term yet plunged to crushing lows domestically.

But he'll never lose the will to become a better boss or make Dons a better team. And he reckons it all comes from having the right type of players.

He said: "I was asked about European bonuses before we played Dnipro to qualify for the UEFA Cup group stages and felt like saying, 'If we win the game keep your bonus. It might be three months' mortgage money but f*** it - just get through'.

"The rewards will come if you take that attitude. That's why, if I sign players, I always throw in a wee test.

"If I don't hear what I like they won't sign. For example, I'll say I want a guy to play right midfield, where I know he's not comfortable.

"Some will just say 'fine' to get a deal signed but I'd rather they told me the honest answer.

"Some are made of the right stuff. Like Alan Gow. He chose Rangers but still phoned to tell me.

"Lee Miller was the same. Twice. And we got him the second time. It's all about the quality of people you get, it's not just the quality of player."