Two-tier management is yet to be widely embraced in English football but Bury have not been afraid to dip their toe into the water. After a struggle against relegation from the Football League last season, the Shakers have brought in the experienced figure of Keith Alexander to oversee a revival.
The former Lincoln City and Peterborough boss is the first director of football at Gigg Lane and will work in partnership with first-team manager Chris Casper.
"Chris is a relatively young manager who has had a couple of seasons at it when Bury have finished fourth and fifth bottom," Alexander told BBC Sport.
"I have been in the top five or six for the last five years or so, so hopefully I can pass something on."
Under Alexander's guidance, Lincoln reached the League Two play-offs for four successive years after he transformed a side that finished 22nd in 2002.
Despite that track record, his services were on offer at the start of the summer after a spell in charge at Peterborough lasted just six months.
"I went to Peterborough at the wrong time," he said. "But we were still in eighth position when I got the sack."
With a new owner and new money in place at London Road it was all change at every level and Alexander was replaced in the dug-out by Darren Ferguson.
Another traditional manager's role would surely have come Alexander's way again but by the end of May the 48-year-old was ready to take up the fresh challenge on offer at Bury.
 | I have got several Premiership clubs on the doorstep and it will be great if we can get a working relationship with them |
"You have got to be a bit careful about wanting this, that and the other. You take what's available," Alexander added.
"I wanted to get back into the game. I was approached by Bury and I was up for that.
"I am happy to help and let's see how it works. It's not something I have done before or Chris has done before."
According to Alexander, the roles and the working relationship between himself and Casper will evolve.
At just 32, Casper is the youngest manager in the League and has had to learn the ropes the hard way.
After injury ended the playing days of the former Manchester United and Reading defender he started his coaching career in Bury's youth system.
A poor start to the 2005/06 season saw him elevated to the senior manager's job and he successfully steered the Shakers to safety.
| Three of the seven teams in the promotion and play-off places had directors of football |
Last season was less promising but with a fresh start over the summer Alexander believes the new management set-up can produce better.
And a successful precedent has already been set at League Two level with the Lennie Lawrence-Paul Trollope combination inspiring Bristol Rovers to play-off success last season.
Danny Wilson at promoted Hartlepool works with a director of sport in Chris Turner, while Lincoln replaced Alexander with John Schofield as head coach and John Deehan as director of football.
"Three of the seven teams in the promotion and play-off places had directors of football," Alexander said.
At Bury, Alexander, who played as a striker for Grimsby, Stockport and Lincoln, is in charge of the football side of the whole club.
 Bury boss Chris Casper will get advice from the director of football |
Casper will have the final say on team selection, although Alexander will have an input.
And the transfer activity at Gigg Lane this summer has seemingly been largely his work with his Lincoln links coming strongly to the fore.
"I have signed the likes of Ben Futcher and Paul Morgan, who have done very well for me in the past," he said.
"People can read into that what they want but I just wanted to get players into the club who have been at the right end of the table.
Since peaking with a couple of seasons at Championship level at the end of the 1990s, Bury have found life a struggle on and off the field.
A financial crisis threatened their survival and playing in the shadow of the Manchester clubs will always restrict their appeal.
| I have been in the top five or six for the last five years or so, so hopefully I can pass something on |
But Bury, back on a financial even keel, have still produced a steady stream of good young players - Preston's in-demand striker David Nugent the latest to blossom - and Alexander believes their geographical position should be seen as a positive factor.
"It's a very, very good area for football," he added. "I have been used to go going into non-league for players. Now I have got several Premiership clubs on the doorstep and it will be great if we can get a working relationship with them."
After a summer in which Alexander has gained his Pro Licence and visited family in St Lucia for the first time since recovering from major brain surgery in 2003, Bury's new regime will officially kick into action when pre-season training starts on 5 July.
And with a clean slate to work from, Alexander sees a positive future.
"Everybody is looking forward to it. It's a new challenge for us all," he said.
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