The Cowdenbeath coaching academy deserves credit as another manager who was schooled at Central Park prepares for his SPL graduation.
That is the view of Dundee United boss Peter Houston, who will pit his wits against Danny Lennon on Saturday when the top-flight season kicks off.
Lennon made the switch from the Fife club to St Mirren in the summer and, having led the Blue Brazil up the divisions, Houston is tipping him to make a positive impact on the Premier League.
Of course, Houston knows a certain other manager who learned his trade at the Blue Brazil, and revitalised an SPL club before moving on to a bigger stage.
While Houston is not comparing Lennon to former United and now Scotland gaffer Craig Levein, he has nevertheless been impressed by the 40-year-old’s work thus far.
“Cowdenbeath has proved a great place for managers to learn their trade,” observed Houston, who was back taking United’s training on Thursday after assisting Levein as the Scots lost in Sweden.
“Obviously, Craig started off there and he has nothing but good things to say about them.
“Danny is the latest one to come from there and he deserves his chance at this level because he did a fantastic job at Cowdenbeath by leading them to successive promotions.”Looking for “flying start”He added, “He took them into the first division and winning promotion is the mark of a guy who knows how to manage a football team.
“Now he will be looking to get off to a flying start and to prove himself in the SPL.
“He has worked away down there in the lower leagues, learned his trade and built a very good team.”
Houston said, “At Cowdenbeath, he had to show an eye for a player and the ability to get them to gel together so in my mind there is no doubt he will carry that on and do a good job at St Mirren.
“What the fans need to do is give him time to shape things the way he wants to and to get things going.
“He has brought in a lot of players he knows and they will be up for it because they want to prove they are ready for this level.
“What we have to do is match them in all aspects and if we do that then I think we can get something from them.”Kenneth and Robertson to playTannadice duo Garry Kenneth and Scott Robertson, who both played in Scotland’s 3-0 defeat in Stockholm, joined in training at St Andrews and Houston expects them to face the Buddies.
He said, “Scotty is feeling a bit tender because he took a kick on the ankle but he will be all right for Saturday.
“Garry came out of the game fine so he did a light training session and will be ready for the St Mirren game.
“The pair of them did OK, I thought. It was difficult for Garry being thrown into such an inexperienced defence and it was a test for him.”
He added, “We know what other players can do and Craig wanted to see what the newer ones were capable of.
“Maybe if there was a bit more experience in the defence things would have been different but it was a learning curve and they will all come out of it a wee bit wiser.”
Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza is also back in training and could be on the bench on Saturday, while hopes are high that fellow frontman David Goodwillie will be fit.
Meanwhile, any United fan hoping to see the team play AEK Athens will have to buy a ticket for Tannadice and/or go to the return leg in Greece.
While the Greek television audience will be able to view both legs of the Europa League tie live, no broadcasting company has expressed an interest in showing it in this country.