Actions speak louder than words is one of Brian Tevreden's mantras.
And so far, the signs look promising for Reading.
Tevreden is the Royals' new and young technical director who quietly succeeded Nicky Hammond after the long-serving Royals stalwart joined West Brom this summer.
Tevreden, 34, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes - "he's first to arrive, either here or at the stadium, and last to leave" one training ground staff member said - and already overseen some significant changes on and off the pitch ahead of the new season.
And Tevreden, who might be little-known as it stands, prefers it that way and is happy to let his work do the talking.
"Actions speak louder than words," the Dutchman said.
"I am never one to scream or yell a lot. Prove yourself, and people will get to know you."
In that regard, pulling off the eye-catching appointment of a big-name like Jaap Stam , his biggest task so far, was a good start.
Tevreden recommended Stam and then surprised Royals chiefs when he actually managed to lure the former Holland and Manchester United defender to Reading.
"We have a clear plan for the academy. We want to develop young players for the first team, mixed with experienced players," explained ex-Ajax youngster and coach Tevreden, who has brought in seven players this summer.
"Jaap is experienced as a manager with young players and first team players. We want a specific style of attacking play.
"He came from Ajax, was first-team assistant manager, so he knows about the philosophy.
"The philosophy I have is the same one so that is why the connection was there."
The Reading job is Stam's first as a first team manager.
Tevreden said: "Every big coach, Pep Guardiola, Frank de Boer, they came from the academy and were put in the first team, inexperienced.
"You see where Guardiola is now. You see what De Boer did with Ajax. But when are you experienced? Do the job and then you can become experienced. Same with Jaap.
"If it goes wrong people will point at me but that is part of the job. You have to be a man and take it."
Reading are at the start of a three-year plan and by the end of it want to have consolidated their position in the Premier League.
"We haven't got a target within the three years for when we want to get to the Premier League," Tevreden said. "This year we want to fight for the Premier League."
Tevreden, a former left-winger who started his career at Ajax before being released at 18, hoped to reach the top as a player.
When he decided that wasn't going to happen after further spells at clubs in Holland and Greece he quit aged 25 and embarked on a coaching career firstly with the Dutch FA and then Ajax before joining Reading in January initially as head of international football and development.
Cutting his career short early gave Tevreden a head start in his bid to make his mark off the pitch.
He is now helping run a club when he is easily young enough to still be playing.
But Tevreden insists age is just a number and has quickly proved to agents and rival clubs that his youth should not be confused for
inexperience or naivety.
He said: "Sometimes they try and do some things because they think you are young but then I am very hard. Very hard to deal with.
"People try but believe me when they go out of the office they know."
Tevreden also doesn't see his colour as an issue. "For me it is very strange we talk about colour in 2016," he says.
But as a rarity in English football, a black person with a boardroom position, Tevreden accepts he has a role to play as an example to others.
He said: "I can understand that because when Clarence Seedorf was appointed manager of AC Milan I had a feeling of goosebumps.
"I watched one game and I remember when Mario Balotelli scored and he ran over to Seedorf and they pointed to each other and it was difficult to explain how proud I was.
"For me that was an example that it is possible that you can be a black coach.
"It is a positive thing if I am an example now as a director that it is possible.
"If you work hard, are loyal and do your thing then you can get the job.
"I think Reading did a very good job because they didn't look at the colour just the quality and that is a compliment to the owners and the chief executive."
