DOUGIE Freedman believes in forward-thinking both on and off the football pitch.

The Wanderers manager is meticulous in his game-planning and reputedly looks ahead several games in advance when picking his teams for upcoming matches.

But he admits thinking ahead is a trait just as important off the pitch and says his move into management after hanging up his playing boots was a result of just that.

Freedman took time out from managing Wanderers this week, during the international break, to visit the new base of English football at the St George’s Centre in Burton-upon-Trent as part of the “Create Your Legacy” event hosted by the League Football Education organisation – a group formed in 2004 by the Football League and PFA to advise young footballers to consider the future.

He was on hand to speak to young footballers about planning for a future after their careers end, and revealed he himself has even gone a step further and looked to his life when he leaves the game entirely.

Freedman also owns Focus Fitness – a drive to help ex-professionals re-train to run fitness courses in businesses around the capital after leaving the game – and is keen on looking to a life beyond football.

He said: “In my late 20s, I started to think about what life might be like when I finished playing. I was very fortunate that the PFA put coaching courses on for players and I approached them and went away and got experience and my qualifications.

“I coached youth-teams every Sunday morning and then I would be back at work as a player every Monday morning.

“I always had a vision that I wanted to coach and strongly believed that it didn’t matter how well I was doing as a player – I needed to plan ahead.

“I went on from there with a bit of help from the PFA who are a fantastic organisation and I planned for the future.

“I’m a manager now but I’m planning for life after that as well. I think I’ve got to put a little bit back into my sport and yes I’m a manager but I try to do a lot with kids.

“I did a lot of work mentoring kids and stuff with the community guys when I was at Palace and it’s something I’m passionate about.”