Although the Football Association were afraid of Brian, there were other countries – significantly Wales, the Republic of Ireland and, improbably, Iran in the early 1970s – who flirted with him during his career. Brian listened to their blandishments and frequently used their courtship to improve his own contract at Nottingham Forest.

‘I’m telling you, there wouldn’t have been more of an outcry if the Welsh FA had dug up Dr Crippen and given him the chance of going to the next World Cup.’

On the reaction to the Welsh FA’s decision to offer him the job as national team manager 1988

‘Becoming Welsh manager is a dream come true because I need to sample senior international football before my career ends. Now I can discover whether my methods work on the world stage.’ 1988

‘I didn’t have to talk money with them. I could buy the bloody Welsh FA ... I told them that if they were hard up they needn’t hire a coach for matches. I’d use my company car. It’s a big Mercedes and I’d get most of their squad in it.’ 1988

‘They were wrong, you know, I could have done both jobs.’

On the Forest board’s decision not allow him to take the Welsh job part-time 1988

‘I know there wouldn’t be any problems getting across to Dublin. It’s just a straight walk across the Irish Sea for me.’

On being linked with the Republic of Ireland manager’s job

‘I want to be manager of Scotland. If I thought for one second the Scottish Football Association would give me the chance, I’d grab it.’ 1986