Dave Jones can realise Sam Hammam's dream of his Cardiff City side playing in the Premiership according to World Cup winner Alan Ball.
Ball says the fact Jones' own playing career was cut short, the way he was dismissed at Southampton and his sacking at Wolves last year, will combine to ensure Cardiff inherit a manager still young, and with a tangible hunger to prove himself.
"I have known him right back from our Everton days because he was one of the lads that used to look after my boots when I was playing," said Ball.
"As a kid he was no different to anyone else, he was desperate to be a player and he gave it his best shot.
"He didn't quite reach the heights but not everyone can do that and in his case injury had a lot to do with that.
"But he took the next best career path open to him and became a coach and I kept an eye on him hoping he would do well.
"I stayed in touch with Dave through his playing days to when he began as assistant manager at
"When he first arrived people were scratching their heads because he was a young manager making his way in the game rather than a big name appointment. But he did a terrific job there.
"He made some very shrewd buys, got them playing very good football and put together a good side with what he had available.
"When things got difficult for him though, the chairman didn't back him, which was out of order . That really set him back in his career.
"Things like that happen in football but it doesn't take away from the fact that he did a great job there and that he will do a great job for Cardiff too if he gets the backing he needs."
Ball is sure that given support from Sam Hammam, Jones is capable of not taken the club to where it should be in the Premiership.
"Dave will have looked at the potential of the club before he took the job and he will be aware of what it could become provided he is given that backing," he said.
"Dave did a good job at Wolves and he took them up to the Premiership which is all he could have done in the time he had really," said Ball.
"He couldn't keep them there but you can't expect miracles.
"They chose to sack him and as a manager you accept that if you are not winning then you have to take the consequences.
"But that is where your motivation comes from as a manager and that means he has unfinished business.
"Away from the game he does have a nice light side to him. He enjoys a laugh, likes his golf and he is a good family man. But once it comes down to football he is a winner with real drive about him.
"Now he has been taken on at a smashing club like