Damian Duff has conceded that one of his failings is a tendency to curse too much but the former Republic of Ireland internationalist is sworn to getting the best out of those in the underbelly at Celtic.

Having eschewed the limelight and the glamorous trappings that came with his own time in the game, the straight talking 39-year-old will seek to marry traditional values with a modern ethos as he sets his sights on a coaching career.

Duff has arrived in Glasgow with his wife and children accompanying him – “I don’t know how anyone could go and leave the family behind” – so the commitment on his part is not there to be questioned. And he’ll expect the same from those looking to carve out the same kind of success that he enjoyed as a player.

“I know you have to deal with players a bit differently,” he said. “Maybe some days I set my standards too high with everything but I’m hard, emotional and passionate.

“I hope the players appreciate it and there’s always a little place for being on a player. I was a volunteer at Shamrock Rovers because I wanted to help and I haven’t come here for money, believe me, but I’m here to learn and help players.”

Duff was criticised by parents during his tenure with Shamrock Rovers for having the under-15 side involved in dawn sessions, but it is the hunger and mentality that he believes players need to carve out a professional career. And the former winger doesn’t seem likely to suffer fools gladly as he gets his feet under the desk at Lennoxtown.

“I believe the players are up at half six in the morning at St Ninian’s four times a week,” he said. “We were the only football team at any level in Ireland to do it and I got slaughtered for doing it. That’s the mentality you’re kind of dealing with there at times but for me it’s the best time of day to work so it was amazing for me to hear they do it four times a week here.

“Agents don’t help and parents sometimes don’t either. They tell kids in the car home that they are this and that. Well, if you want to know the truth, then I will tell the truth. Parents can help in a good way but they can also hinder at times. I probably left a bit on them back home.

“But I will always tell the truth.”

A look at recent transfer windows would suggest it has never been more pressing for Celtic to produce their own talent. There has been success in that regard – Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney have all been pivotal to Celtic’s domestic dominance under Brendan Rodgers but sustaining that conveyor belt is key given the club’s status in the global transfer market.

“Celtic do have to develop their own players,” said Duff. “Until Odsonne Edouard in the summer, Chris Sutton was still the record signing.

“That was a long time ago and we all know about the money in Scotland compared to England. So it’s important to have a strong academy and bring the players through.

“I am getting them at the final hurdle to get into the first team, which is potentially the hardest bit It’s all about the academy at Celtic. Down south, you can maybe get amazing moves to Man City and Chelsea at a young age. But how many break into the first team?

“At Celtic, this club is built around the academy and the gaffer wants to bring players through.”