STEVE Wigley's credentials as a football manager and coach are not in doubt.

Appointed as new City boss Keith Millen's assistant on a one-year rolling contract last week, the 48-year-old has worked with some of the biggest names in the English game.

None more so, than the great Brian Clough, who plucked the winger from the relative obscurity of non-league football with Curzon Ashton and elevated him to star status in the successful Nottingham Forest team of the early 1980s.

Wigley played 86 times for the twice former European champions and insists he learned the biggest lesson of all from Clough.

"I was very fortunate to start my professional career at Nottingham Forest, because I played for a manager who demanded honesty," recalls Wigley.

"If there was one thing you learned there, playing for Brian Clough, it was the importance of being an honest player.

"More than anything else, he taught me how to take a pride in doing my job properly.

"When you come out of non-League football at the age of 20 and play for the European champions, you cannot help but learn. In Brian Clough, I learned from the best in the business."

If Clough instilled the work ethic which characterised Wigley's playing days, Paul Hart was responsible for shaping his subsequent career as a coach.

After spending three years at Aldershot, Wigley received a call from Forest Academy director Hart, who persuaded him to return to the City Ground to work with the club's young players.

He said: "Paul Hart is as good a coach as I've worked with and probably learned more about that side of the game from him than anyone else.

"Working with him gave me a good grounding and, having worked in the Academy at Forest, I later progressed to reserve team manager, first team coach and even manager for a short time when I was at Southampton.

"It's been a gradual progression and I've benefited from working with some very good people, including David Platt and Stuart Pearce. "I'm glad I did things that way, because I've learned the coaching profession the hard way, the way people should."

Wigley has never forgotten how Clough unearthed some of Forest's biggest stars from non-League football and has since forged his own reputation as someone capable of recognising and nurturing young talent.

He said: "Gary Birtles came before me and then there was Peter Davenport. Brian Clough took a punt on all three of us and proved you can find little gems at non-League level if you are prepared to look hard enough."

Wigley played an integral role in the development of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale during his time at Southampton and is now looking forward to working with City winger Albert Adomah, who started in non-League football with Harrow Borough before moving into League Two with Barnet.

"There are plenty of examples of young players who have come out of part-time football and gone on to make it big," said Wigley.

"Just look at Chris Smalling – he began at Maidstone United, was discovered by Fulham and, within a year, had signed for Manchester United.

"There has to be an opportunity and a pathway for lads like Albert and I'm looking forward to working with him. If there is one thing I have done down the years, it is establish a reputation for bringing on young players.

"I worked with the likes of Walcott and Bale at Southampton, Michael Dawson at Nottingham Forest, helped others progress from the (England) Under-21s to the full squad and would like that to continue now I'm at Bristol City.

"One of the most satisfying parts of the job for me is helping these lads on their way. While part of my job is about getting results, I also see it as trying to put some value on the pitch."