But nowadays, it is a case of 'Do as I say, rather than do what I did' as 43 year old Dennis revels in his role as director of football at Ryman League newcomers Eastleigh.

Dennis sees the job as multi-functional, with a direct input at matches and also in a scouting capacity away from the club.

He said: "I am involved with the first team in the dug-out on matchdays.

"Then I also go out scouting and looking for players. I watch the reserve team games of professional clubs and I go out to midweek non-League fixtures to look at opposing sides.

"I am extremely busy and there is a lot of travelling to be done, but it is very enjoyable. Especially over the last two years where we have won back-to-back promotions.

"And we have made a solid start this season, having joined the Ryman League Premier Division. In fact, we would have done even better but we have had six or seven players out injured in the opening weeks of the season.

"We don't want to run before we can walk at Eastleigh, but the club are definitely going places. We have just had a new £400,000 grandstand built.

"And our attendances are up by nearly 100 this season so the fans are coming in.

"I had a lovely time as a player but now it is nice to put something back into football. I had 16 great years getting paid well for something I enjoyed doing.

"Here at Eastleigh, I have a different type of tension and stress because when you are in the dug-out you are not in control. You can only give advice and sometimes the players listen, sometimes they don't!

"They can have a non-League mentality and so we have to work on their minds.

"I hope the players will listen to my ideas and I feel that they do. It is all about a respect. If you have played in the top flight, then players do respect that.

"We have a couple of ex-pros in our side - Danny Smith was at Bournemouth and Martin Thomas played for Swansea and Exeter. So they give that little bit of professionalism to our team. Hopefully when we get a few injured players back our season will take off."

Dennis was a wholehearted, fervent player. Regarded by many wise sages as the best left-back in the country, disciplinary problems on the field always held back his progress. Sowhat is he like as a director of football?

"I wear my heart on my sleeve. I always have done. My role now entails good communication with people. And on a matchday, I roll my sleeves up as we try to earn our corn on the bench to get the results we need.

"It is nice when something we spot comes off well. Last season, we picked up a young player called Jamie Stokoe, who had been released by AFC Bournemouth due to their club's financial problems. He is a centre-forward and he settled in fantastically well for us, scoring eight in ten games.

That is nice, especially when you get players on free transfers and so you don't have to pay money for them.

"I think we can have a very good season at Eastleigh, once we get our injuries cleared up. We have a great bond between the boys now and everyone is pulling in the right direction. So we are all optimistic."

Grassroots Roundup

Aldershot Town have agreed a contract with Welsh international defender Darren Barnard until the end of the season. Barnard made 344 League appearances in his professional career with Chelsea, Bristol City, Barnsley and Grimsby. He has won 22 full caps, the last of which was during the summer.

Hinckley United boss Dean Thomas has been rewarded with a new three year contract after a table-topping start to the season in the Nationwide North.

Sir Geoff Hurst has agreed to become senior vice-president of Hyde United in the UniBond League. The former England World Cup Final hat-trick hero was born in the local area and his father Charlie played for Hyde United.