ALL eyes were on Rupert Lowe when he emerged from the directors' lounge at Villa Park on the opening day of the season.

There had been discussions with his opposite number Doug Ellis about James Beattie and photographers were hoping for a picture of the two chairmen together.

They were to be disappointed, although Lowe's guest - Sir Clive Woodward - still raised a few eyebrows and made for a decent picture.

With rumours about Paul Sturrock already plentiful, I remember my Echo colleague Adam Leitch turning to me and joking: "Maybe he'll get Sir Clive in."

Of course neither of us had a clue what might be unfolding but I remember saying: "I bet he would be successful in any sport."

I remain convinced of that.

There has been a rather strange idea in football for too long that you need to have been a great player to be a great manager.

The two are certainly compatible, but the idea that it is some sort of prerequisite to the job is nonsensical.

Indeed, it is amusing to see some deride the idea of Woodward stepping into football at the same time as Alan Shearer is being put forward as a virtual certainty to one day manage Newcastle.

Think about it. Which is really the most ridiculous proposal?

A top job in football management for someone with no experience in that role or for a person who has successfully restructured the organisation of an entire sport and inspired a group of players to become the best in the world?

The great football managers, first and foremost, are essentially those who can motivate people and organise a coherent structure at their football club. Surely no-one can doubt Woodward's credentials to do that?

Yes, the people and specific demands might be different in football, but the principles of management are the same.

Woodward is known for his attention to detail and his ability to break down the specifics needed to achieve success.

For example, under Woodward, the England rugby team had a designated kicking coach, throwing-in coach, scrummaging coach and even periphery vision coach.

Who's to say football clubs and players couldn't benefit from a new freshness in their approach?

Like most fans, Woodward is probably fairly bemused when he sees football players who can't pass with both feet, tackle properly or deliver corners and throw-ins consistently.

Football might have more money than any other sport, but it doesn't necessarily follow that it is always more professional in its approach.

Understanding his own limitations is a strength of Woodward and it seems highly unlikely he would want to get involved in tactics or day-to-day coaching.

Where he sees all this leading, though, is anyone's guess.

For now, I suspect he is realistic enough to treat his relationship with Saints as a new challenge and a learning process that can benefit all sides.

Of course, if Sir Clive's role at Saints becomes formalised into a major title like 'technical director', it'll be fascinating to see how his friendship with Lowe would unfold.

Both are certainly men who like being in control.

And another thought. One of the best lessons from Woodward's reign at England was the value of continuity.

There were persistent calls for his sacking after several failures to complete a grand slam, but he was rightly backed and the RFU reaped the reward.

When Lowe puts into place the structure he wants for Saints, let's hope he too gives it a real chance to work.