Paul Jewell will head into the Premiership next season carrying with him the abiding memory of one of the all-time great Liverpool managers.

Jewell knows he will have to learn fast and the hard way if he is to cope with the mind games of Alex Ferguson, the coolness of Arsene Wenger and the kidology of Gianluca Vialli.

But the Bradford boss can still remember the lessons he learned as an aspiring teenager at Anfield under Bob Paisley, one of football's legendary teachers.

Following Bradford's promotion with that remarkable victory at Wolves, Jewell will be the most inexperienced and youngest manager in the Premier League.

At 34, and with just 16 months on his managerial CV to date, it is fair to say he could be in for a bumpy nine-month ride next season.

But Jewell believes Paisley's ways and wisdom during a time when Liverpool were masters of all they surveyed will stand him in good stead for what is likely to be a season-long survival battle.

Having started as an apprentice with the Reds, Jewell eventually signed a professional contract at 18, although in his two seasons he never once made a first-team appearance before joining Wigan.

But his heart and soul still remain with the club, and he said: "I was brought up on the Liverpool ethos. That's what I've always tried to take into my football because I learned so much there.

"I've obviously learned from every single manager I've worked under. But with the Liverpool of old, I thought the way the club was run then was fantastic.

"I used to love going into work. I couldn't wait to wake up to get to work, and the enthusiasm I had then I've still got now.

"You pick up good habits and you learn all about teamwork, and that's what Bradford are based on.

"People like Gordon Watson, who has only played a fraction of the season, and Mark Prudhoe, who hasn't had a game, are all delighted for the lads in the team - that's our strength.

"It's because I learned to keep the job as simple as possible, because it's a simple game is football.

"I also want the players to come in and enjoy training just as I did when I was at Liverpool.

"I'm also a players' man ... one of the lads. I enjoy the players' company and I feel for them because it's not that long ago since I was one myself.

"People have said to me that I should distance myself from the players. Some managers are like that but I made a conscious effort not to change myself too much."

Such strength and qualities were recognised by chairman Geoffrey Richmond, who is to reward Jewell with a deserved new, improved three-year contract within the coming weeks.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.