You were at QPR when they lost to Oxford United in the 1986 Milk Cup final. What do you recall from that day at Wembley?

What? No, I can’t remember that (laughs).

I was actually injured and sat just behind the bench.

It was a hell of a day for Oxford and I can remember it really well.

The fans were absolutely brilliant and the performance from the team that day was first-class.

It was a disappointing day for QPR, but a wonderful one for Oxford.

I got injured a few weeks before and I knew I was going to be out for the season, so I was able to get my head around it.

I was delighted we got to the cup final, but disappointed for QPR that we didn’t win it. Now though, I’m delighted Oxford did.

Who was the best manager you played under and why?

That’s an easy one – it’s Terry Venables.

His man-management skills were very good and his coaching methods were way beyond that period.

The success he had abroad when he went to Barcelona just showed what a good manager and coach he was.

We were a second division side and we got to the FA Cup final under him, qualifying for Europe.

You are your own person, but you take something from everyone you worked under.

A good coach takes ideas from other good coaches and moulds them into how you want it. I learned a lot under him.

What is the single most important attribute for a manager to have?

To be a winner. If you’re a winner you pull everyone with you and you’re successful.

I want winners around me – simple as that.

You appear a calm and relaxed coach and we all know Mickey Lewis and Andy Melville are nice guys.

But do you think you need somebody with the opposite personality trait in a coaching set-up, like when you had Martin Kuhl as your No 2 at Wycombe?

Mickey and Mel are good blokes and I’ve not seen them lose it, but you don’t always have to do that.

If you talk to people they listen. If you shout at people they switch off.

I do have my moments.

Martin Kuhl was excellent and we had a very good relationship. We still have. He’s a friend of mine, he’s an outstanding coach and we had some success together.

But the modern player and coach are slightly different to maybe 15 or 20 years ago.

You say I look calm, but swans look calm and underneath the water they’re paddling like hell.

I like to come across as being calm and relaxed because you can put that across to the players.

If they see you as being tense and uptight then they become tense and uptight.

You can’t play that way and I want them to play in a composed manner.

Do you believe the squad with the best quality players will always get promoted?

No, because there’s more to it than just quality players.

If you have good players it gives you a chance.

If you’ve got players who have a bond and are organised you also have a chance.

There are different ways to gain promotion and you also need a bit of luck.

What is the key to building a promotion-winning squad?

Having winners.