You have got to admire young Bracewell's tactics. He probably just wanted his father at home in Durham rather than 250 miles away at Fulham.

"My wife Carol and I decided to keep a home in one place when I decided to go into management. If you get the sack it's that much more difficult for the family to have to move," explained Bracewell, 37, as he prepared his team for this weekend's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Wimbledon.

"It's been very difficult, but you have to make sacrifices. I miss the family very much, but after the match on Saturday I'm off up home," said Bracewell, looking at the photo of Jay in his football kit, sitting on the desk of his spacious office at Fulham's training complex in south London.

"In your first job in management you have to be so focused. Carol is very understanding. We've been through all the ups and downs when I was a player and she saw me through 2.5 years of injury."

Bracewell arrived at Fulham via Stoke, Everton, Sunderland and Newcastle. We first met more than 20 years ago in Shropshire, where I was a junior reporter and Bracewell was our local footballing hero who had hit the big time by signing as a professional for Stoke. He had a smart Ford Capri and was quite a target for the girls when he pitched up at the local night club.

Back then Bracewell was a touch shy. To some commentators that youthful shyness has turned into truculence. He is a man of few words in the confrontational post-match press conference.

But in the safety of talking to a fellow old-Salopian, it is a different story. He is warm and funny, with a cheeky grin and a sparkle in his eye. "The media paint you how they see fit. I think I'm more wary than Kevin Keegan was, but I know it's all part of the job talking to reporters and I have to admit it's something I don't always enjoy.

"You're standing there, under pressure, in front of all these microphones and cameras, and it can be very offputting. It can be very cruel."

I suggested he could lighten up, but he disagreed. "You can't be something you're not, I can't suddenly start being all singing, all dancing. I'm professional and sometimes people see that as being dour, I don't give too much away," he joked with a laugh and a twinkle of the eye that could easily crack a bit of ice with the press pack, if only he would dare to relax.

But entering as the new kid on the management block at such a high profile club is not a position you can relax in. Mohammed Fayed has invested millions in Fulham and nothing less than promotion to the Premiership is part of this year's business plan.

Rudd Gullit, Martin O'Neill and Terry Venables were all linked with the Fulham job when Keegan left for Lancaster Gate, however the board opted for Bracewell, who had served his time on the pitch and in the back room at Craven Cottage.

Bracewell repays Fayed's faith in him with unswerving loyalty: "It's a fantastic experience working with the chairman. He's a good man to work for.

"He's open and honest with me - but I know if the results don't work I'll have to bear the consequences."

For Bracewell, the nerves must be jangling. The Premiership campaign wobbled over Christmas with Fulham picking up just four out of nine points. "We've got to hold our nerve, the League remains our priority, but all I've picked up over Christmas is a few more grey hairs," he said.

Fulham, though, remain in both cup competitions. They have reached the quarter-finals of the Worthington Cup and this Saturday face Wimbledon in the FA Cup. "It'll be a tough match, but we've got the home advantage and in my time here we've had some good results against Premiership opposition."