Albion boss Steve Coppell will base the survival bid on a wing and flair, just like the Doc ordered.

The ex-England and Manchester United wide man has revealed to The Argus his recipe for escaping relegation from Division One.

Coppell outlined his football philosophy as he prepared for his first match in charge against Sheffield United at Withdean today.

"One of my first influences was Tommy Docherty," Coppell said. "He was the one who signed me for Manchester United and we had a very exciting team at that time.

"My footballing mentality has been shaped by that and perhaps even more significantly I was a Liverpool fan as a boy and used to watch them every week.

"I used to love wingers like Ian Thomspon and Ian Callaghan. They were real heroes of mine. I like to have width in my teams and that's what I hope we will see.

"I like crosses coming in, all my teams have crosses going into the box as often as possible. That's something I hope I can duplicate here."

Coppell, a student at Liverpool University before launching his playing career with Tranmere Rovers, has maintained his appetite for learning in management.

He watched Jean Tigana's training sessions at Fulham during a break from the game in-between leaving Crystal Palace and taking charge of Brentford.

"I still do," Coppell said. "Ever since I started management I try to take a few days off here and there on a regular basis to watch other people work.

"I have been fortunate enough to go to Italy, Germany and France and it just gives you a fresh insight. There is no way if you stay in your own little cocoon that you can innovate and bring in new ideas.

"It's only when you get out and see other people work that you can think about the game a little bit more and your training methods.

"If things are going well it's easy but sometimes if you are looking for a quick fix then just getting out and about, not necessarily with the big names but just with people that are making reputations, are key influences."

Coppell has been taken aback by the spirit of the players since replacing Martin Hinshelwood in the Seagulls' hotseat 12 days ago.

"I was almost banking on them being down, because then you think you can really try and pep them up, but they don't need to be pepped up," he said. "I think they are looking forward to the challenge."