GARY Speed plans to establish a bootroom mentality at Bramall Lane.
The former Wales midfielder, who was unveiled as Sheffield United's new manager earlier this week, is busy preparing for his first game in charge at Middlesbrough on Sunday.
By Speed's own admission, ensuring the visitors possess the tools required to secure a result at the Riverside is his most pressing concern.
"That's all we're really thinking about at the moment. It's the number one priority," he said.
But Kevin Blackwell's successor has clearly given some thought to the type of culture he wants to establish behind the scenes.
"I want people around me who are ready to offer an opinion, ready to give their ideas," said Speed. "If there's something that needs raising or something that needs to be done that hasn't been, then it's important people speak up.
"Everyone has a different opinion about things and I don't just want the staff here to agree with mine. If they think they've got a better plan or a better idea then the best thing is to share it.
With United retaining the services of Sam Ellis, Blackwell's assistant, Speed will not be short of advice as he takes his first steps in football management. The arrival of John Carver, the 40-year-old's friend and mentor at Newcastle, will provide another membership boost for United's brains trust.
Plymouth Argyle, where Carver has spent the past eight months, last night confirmed they had granted permission for their assistant head coach to discuss terms with United. His appointment is likely to be ratified before Speed's squad head to the north-east.
Elaborating on his plans for open governance, Speed said: "Everyone who is working here has got to feel free to express themselves. You don't want a situation where people are afraid to speak.
"That's certainly not what I want. I want a good thought process. You bring people on board because you value their knowledge and their experience so it would seem wrong to do that and then not use it."
With the meeting with Gordon Strachan's side looming large on the horizon, Speed will initially limit the flow of information ebbing towards his squad.
"I don't want them to have overload. It wouldn't be fair or productive to ask them to change too much at this stage. That's something we'll be looking at doing over the longer term," he said.
But it will be intriguing to see how he utilises the options he has inherited against opponents who have spent lavishly in the transfer market.
Speed also aims to complete "a few" signings of his own before the forthcoming deadline. Indeed, one of his targets could be on board in time for Sunday's televised fixture with a new right-back known to be top of United's wanted list.
Speed is also waiting to discover whether Ched Evans will be passed fit after appearing to suffer a reoccurance of an ankle injury during last weekend's defeat by QPR.
