George Burley was Mr Reliable in a terrific career for Ipswich Town and Scotland, helping his club pull off a memorable FA Cup Final shock against Arsenal in 1978.

After learning his managerial trade with Ayr United, Falkirk and Colchester, he took over at his beloved Portman Road in the mid-1990s and proceeded to build an impressive young side which included Richard Wright, Kieron Dyer and David Johnson.

Ipswich won promotion the Premiership and finished fifth in their first season. Unfortunately for Burley, the club couldn’t sustain their early success and he was sacked in 2002 a few months after Ipswich had been relegated.

But the likeable Scot has bounced back at Derby and their East Midlands win against Nottingham Forest at the weekend has helped their chances of staying in Division One.

Most and least enjoyable parts of your job?

Most enjoyable – Working with the players on the training ground. As a player or a manager, what you really enjoy is going out every day and trying to improve your football.

Least enjoyable – When you are dealing with players and telling then you aren’t going to keep them on. It might be a youngster who has worked very hard and you have to tell them they have to go.

The major difference since you were a player?

Playing-wise, the pace of the game. If you watch videos of 1970s games, you can see the backpass rule has changed the game immensely. It was much slower then, the ball could be rolled back to the goalkeeper, who would pass it to a defender and then get it back again.

One football rule you would like to change?

Everyone talks so much about referees decisions, I think they need help and if we can help it’s a goodidea. Too often, people come away from matches just talking about the referee.

Let’s help them through video technology or even having two refs, one in each half, so they can be right on the spot. We could introduce cameras on the goalposts, it’s an area that hasn’t improved even though the game has got quicker.

Other manager you most admire?

Sir Bobby Robson, he was my manager at Ipswich and brought me up. He has not only been a national team manager but he has been all over Europe with Barcelona, PSV etc. It has to be him.

Player you would sign if money was no object?

Looking at it, I would say Paul Scholes. He would definitely help our ambition of staying in the First Division this season!

How do the players address you?

Boss or Gaffer.

What is your motto?

I tell the players: "If you get the basics right, you’ll be a good player. Do the simple things well"