A man of some physical stature, Keith Alexander was an imposing presence on the pitch and is now looking to take what he has learned at Warwick University and build a similar reputation on it.

Alexander also has a sizeable list of clubs that he has served, taking in more than 20 clubs during his 30 years in the game, and to that experience he has now added the science.

Learning alongside the likes of Mick McCarthy and Glenn Roeder, Alexander has studied this past year towards gaining his UEFA Pro Licence and is convinced that he will be a better coach for it.

Alexander told TheFA.com: "More and more as the courses develop, you get to talk to people at different levels working with different kinds of players. I think it's important for managers and coaches in terms of what they can get out of it.

"The course has helped as I've been able to still talk to my fellow peers, and having the time off from football has helped me really put everything into attaining this award - because it is not an easy thing to pass.

"If you're working towards promotion like Gary (Johnson) it can be unbelievably hard to find the time to complete the modules, but you make it work because it'll be worth it in the long run.

"It's a very good course and there's a great deal to take away from it."

After losing his job at Peterborough, Alexander has had time to reflect on the game from a different perspective.

"I think that losing your job has always been a part of football management, perhaps the reasons are different now," Alexander said.

"I lost my job at Peterborough when a new man came and took over the club. He has put his money into the club and he is entitled to have who he wants in the chair, we all understand that.

"If you're the man who is putting the money into the club, no one can tell you who should be manager, that's your decision. I didn't like it when it happened, but I knew as soon as the new guy came in that my time was up.

"It's these kind of courses that I know will help me get back into the game, and I've had a really enjoyable time doing them." A man of some physical stature, Keith Alexander was an imposing presence on the pitch and is now looking to take what he has learned at Warwick University and build a similar reputation of it.

Alexander also has a sizeable list of clubs that he has served, taking in more than 20 clubs during his 30 years in the game, and to that experience he has now added the science.

Learning alongside the likes of Mick McCarthy and Glenn Roeder, Alexander has studied this past year towards gaining his UEFA Pro Licence and is convinced that he will be a better coach for it.

Alexander told TheFA.com: "More and more as the courses develop, you get to talk to people at different levels working with different kinds of players. I think it's important for managers and coaches in terms of what they can get out of it.

"The course has helped as I've been able to still talk to my fellow peers, and having the time off from football has helped me really put everything into attaining this award - because it is not an easy thing to pass.

"If you're working towards promotion like Gary (Johnson) it can be unbelievably hard to find the time to complete the modules, but you make it work because it'll be worth it in the long run.

"It's a very good course and there's a great deal to take away from it."

After losing his job at Peterborough, Alexander has had time to reflect on the game from a different perspective.

"I think that losing your job has always been a part of football management, perhaps the reasons are different now," Alexander said.

"I lost my job at Peterborough when a new man came and took over the club. He has put his money into the club and he is entitled to have who he wants in the chair, we all understand that.

"If you're the man who is putting the money into the club, no one can tell you who should be manager, that's your decision. I didn't like it when it happened, but I knew as soon as the new guy came in that my time was up.

"It's these kind of courses that I know will help me get back into the game, and I've had a really enjoyable time doing them."