ALFIE the Adventurous Winger would testify that Jack Ross thinks outside the box.
The author of educational books geared at children is proof there’s more to the Alloa boss than meets the eye.
Jim Goodwin has been around the block and his comments regarding his manager’s tendency to veer off page from the coaching manual were revealing.
The Irishman spoke of methods which were fresh and geared towards players thinking for themselves. New ideas designed to stimulate footballing brains dulled by the monotony of training sessions by numbers.
It’s in keeping with the philosophy from a coach who also penned Calum the Courageous Keeper. But here’s the rub.
It’s a radical approach at a time when robotic sessions are all the rage.
Back in the summer, a robot version of the World Cup took place in Germany. The organisers of the event hope that it will encourage the development of robots capable of defeating humans by 2050. You couldn’t make it up.
But thinking for yourself on the pitch is fast becoming a dying art, although thankfully not at Alloa.
Kenny Dalglish was known as a manager who preferred small-sided games to sophisticated sessions.
A few months ago, then Scotland Under-21 boss Ricky Sbragia told a story about his introduction to life as a coach at Manchester United.
Standing watching a youth game, he started to shout at his side – before finding out the philosophy at Old Trafford was far from old school.
Coaches are encouraged to allow the players to solve on-field problems on their own.
There is no room for bawling instructions, it’s geared towards boys being given a freedom of expression.
Ricky was quick to appreciate the benefits of an approach which gives players the chance to think their way through games. And it’s the same now at Alloa, with Goodwin saying: “A lot of young coaches and managers tend to just recycle sessions and come out with the same clichés that they’ve heard from managers.
“If I ever got the chance to be a coach or manager, I wouldn’t do that. It’s nice to freshen things up with new ideas and do more research.
“That’s one thing that Jack does really well. Doing something new and different stimulates the boys’ brains.”
Danny the Determined Defender would have no doubt approved.