JIM FLEETING has worked for the SFA long enough to freely admit he has become institutionalised. And it's no wonder after spending 15 years of his life taking up various positions within the football department.

Now, in his current role as Director of Football Development, it's part of the former Kilmarnock manager's job to put the leading young coaches in the country through their Uefa Pro-Licence course.

The latest batch looking to gain the qualification, which will soon be necessary to manage in every top flight league and in all European competitions, includes Rangers coaches Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant, St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson, Falkirk manager John Hughes and Burnley's Owen Coyle.

Interestingly though, it's not just Scots who are using the SFA's course to help expand their footballing knowledge.

Also signing up for the course is Andrei Villas-Boas, an important part of Jose Mourinho's backroom staff who has followed the Special One from Porto to Chelsea and now on to Italian giants Inter Milan.

The MLS have been represented in the shape of John Murphy, first-team coach at Colorado Rapids, and Newcastle United's former Cypriot defender Nicky Papavasilou, who spent a season at St James' Park.

"It's nice to have people from outwith Scotland wanting to take part in the course," said Fleeting. "There are other FA's who are putting coaches and managers through their Uefa Pro Licence, so the fact they've selected the SFA is nice.

"We've got a number of guys who are currently working for SPL clubs, including managers and first-team coaches, we've got Owen Coyle from the Coca-Cola Championship and we also have guys from abroad such as Andrei while John is working over in the American league."

However, while it is a compliment to the SFA that their course is held in such high esteem around Europe, it goes without saying that educating home-grown coaches and preparing them for management at the highest level is the main thrust of what Fleeting it trying to achieve.

And it's not just as simple as turning up, overseeing a few coaching sessions, and then walking away with a new qualification to add to your CV.

"The course started in January 2007 and should end around August or September this year," said Fleeting. "It involves just about every aspect of football management to make sure we give the guys the tools for the job.

"If the time comes when Celtic are looking for a replacement for Gordon Strachan, or Walter Smith was to leave Rangers, then who is going to be in a position to take over?

"We have to make sure people are ready for these sort of positions and prepare them for that.

"The SFA want to try and develop the next managers and this is an important course, as to manage in European competitions, you require your Pro Licence. But the course takes in so many aspects of football management.

"As part of the course, we try to hear from as many respected football figures as possible and I've been delighted with the help we've had.

"We've heard from the likes of Marcello Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup success in 2006. Lars Lagerback, the Swedish international coach, has also spoken, as have Kenny Dalglish and Andy Roxburgh among others.

"But we've also brought along a couple of members of the media to pass on information on that side of the game, someone from the Institute of Sport, a sports psychologist, a referee representative, a member of the Chelsea scouting team has also addressed the guys.

"They were also sent on a management course which taught them how to work the websites for information, and took in the Uefa Cup Final at Hampden Park last year. And we spent a week at the European Championships in the summer."

Fleeting grasped the opportunity to take the members over to Salzburg in Austria for a week and he added: "Billy Stark took half the group to a game and I took the other half to another match.

"Afterwards, we held discussions and debates about the tactics deployed and how you would set your team up to play against one of the teams, given what you had witnessed the night before at the game.

"It was intense stuff. People were getting up and giving a talk in front of their peers and guys who all have strong opinions on football matters, and it was really interesting. There have been times when we have mock-interviews in front of a board of directors.

"So the guys would come in to a room in a shirt and tie, facing three other guys on the course who were playing the part of the board of directors, and the rest would watch and see how the discussions developed and how they would react to certain situations.

"It really has taken in so many aspects of football management.

"For example, Gus MacPherson and Andy Millen are in the process of completing the course and, even although it has not yet finished, they've both told me there are aspects of the course which has already assisted them in their day-to-day running of St Mirren.

"So the feedback has been extremely positive." Fleeting feels course is two way process

JIM FLEETING has come up close and personal with some of the biggest names in world football in presenting the Fifa Pro Licence course.

But he says it's the positive response from everyone who has taken part which has been his biggest thrill.

Fleeting explained: "I think the enthusiasm of the guys taking part in the course has been the most pleasing aspect for me.

"This is my first time in charge of this course after taking over from Jimmy Sinclair, who moved to Rangers. This course talks a fair bit about respect and I've got to say I've had that from everyone.

"I sit in a glass office here at Hampden and it's been a while since I've been in the field myself as a manager. These guys are out there managing some of the biggest clubs in the country, so maybe some would think who is he to be putting us through the course?'"

Fleeting knows it's as much to do with young managers and coaches with fresh ideas engaging in a two-way process.

He said: "The SFA is there to assist. We don't tell people you have to do this or that. And you have to move with the times."