Austin: Jordan deserves more respect

"You can't knock him for putting his money where his mouth is. The guy didn't have a bean and he has made himself into a multi-millionaire. You can't help but have admiration for him.

"He has got his views and, if he feels he needs to air them, then he will. If he's not happy about something then he will tell you. On the other hand, and I have had first-hand experience of this, if he says he's going to do something he will do it."

The source of Austin's admiration for Jordan stems from a shared set of values.

Like Jordan, the former Tottenham defender is an entrepreneur - he runs his own fitness and property businesses - and also possesses a singled-minded determination to achieve his goals.

"I am extremely self-motivated and very driven," he says, in words which echo Jordan's well-rehearsed management-speak. "I have to have that spark, something to get up for in the morning."

That's why, when a combination of disillusionment and injury convinced him to retire from playing in 2003, Austin decided to retrain as a personal fitness instructor. After qualifying, he built a gym in the garage of his St Albans home, set up a website and now has a thriving business with 16 regular clients - including football commentator John Motson.

It is testament to Austin's "drive" that he can combine his fitness training with Farnbough's relegation battle, but it is all part of the same endgame.

Ahead of the clash of his two former Premiership clubs at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, Austin said: "Once I stopped playing professionally, I decided I wanted to coach or manage, but you have to wait for the right opportunities.

"I have always been a really fit person. When I was playing I was one of the fittest, so I decided I wanted to go into it in more depth. My clients are everyday people who just want to tone up or lose some body fat. I help them the whole way.

"Whatever happens, I will get someone else to run the business. Football is my life, it's in my blood, it's where I see my future. I think I will go on to manage other clubs, I'm sure about that. I love what I do."

For someone with such a professional approach, Farnborough was a culture shock. After finishing his playing career with Woking, Austin was offered the post of Farnborough's director of football last summer, but soon took on the managerial duties after a bust-up with predecessor Vic Searle.

Austin said: "I am not going to lie, I fell out with him. I would be coming to work dressed in a shirt and tie. He would be coming in with a pair of sandals, a pair of shorts and an old white T-shirt with breakfast medals down his front.

One night, he had the assistant coach taking two training sessions while he stood on the side eating fish and chips with a fag in his mouth! It was not the professionalism I was looking for. In the end, he resigned and I was asked to do the job. I knew I could do it and have since tried to set some standards."

Such standards, according to Austin, were also lacking at Crystal Palace when Trevor Francis was his manager. After losing his first-team place, Austin claims he was denied a move because Francis wanted to keep him as a squad player.

The experience was a bitter one and only ended when he was finally released in late 2002. Hampered by a toe injury at Woking, Austin then decided to retire.

He said: "I did not have a nice final 12 months playing under Trevor Francis. I felt I was denied opportunities to go to other clubs by him, so I stayed at Palace to be used by him.

"It disappointed me. Six months before I left there was another club that wanted me.

"He blocked the move because he wanted to have me around, even though he didn't want to play me. Six months later I left. It left a sour taste in my mouth.

"After that, I had a few offers from lower league clubs, but I didn't want to be one of those players who are just trying to nick a living playing in the lower leagues. Fortunately I was in a position where I didn't have to."

Sounds like the kind of self-discipline which Jordan would admire.