Newcastle United's Joe Kinnear insists he is "head and shoulders" above every other director of football in the Barclays Premier League because of his experience.
The 66-year-old's appointment was greeted by a less than favourable response on Tyneside, as Kinnear returned to the club he managed in 2008-09.
Kinnear hardly endeared himself during a shambolic radio interview last month and he has bullishly re-emphasised his credentials again.
He told the Shields Gazette: "Every top club in the land has got one [a director of football]. We haven't - that's the difference.
Kinnear is fast becoming English football's most outspoken figure
"The manager can't do everything. I'm probably the only football manager to be a director of football. I don't know any other ex-managers who have.
"I've been a manager for 35 years. I've been Manager of the Year. I've won every award there is in football as a player.
"I think all those qualities put me head and shoulders above every other director of football."
Newcastle have tried the director of football system before with Dennis Wise, whose title was executive director (football), working above then manager Kevin Keegan.
It was a move which backfired spectacularly with Keegan eventually walking out and successfully fighting a claim for constructive dismissal. The Magpies were relegated at the end of that season.
However, Kinnear is convinced he can form a working partnership with manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr.
He said: "Some directors of football have never played the game.
"I'm lending my experience as a manager for all those years - 10 years at Wimbledon, two years at Nottingham Forest, two years winning promotion at Luton and, of course, almost two years at Newcastle. I would still be there had it [a heart attack] not occurred."
Kinnear was actually in charge at St James' for a little more than six months before his health problems struck.