But he enlisted on the course three years ago, after which he suffered a brain tumour – and by opting to work with youngsters in Newcastle’s youth academy rather than return to work in top-flight management, Roeder did not need the qualification.

However, he now appears keen to become the full-time boss at Newcastle, the club he captained in the 1980s, and told Sky Sports: “My take on that is I agree that our coaches over the past 10 years or more haven’t been sufficiently qualified.

“I’m not against the qualifications Premiership managers should have. In 2003, I signed up and paid my money to go on the course.

“Then I had the health scare which, thank God, I got over.

“Last year I decided I wanted to work in the (Newcastle) academy, and the Pro Licence was not required.

“I’ve decided to take the Pro Licence this year. The fact I’ve signed up shows I agreed with it.

“I think it’s worth noting that it is not something you can fail. As long as you complete the course, you’re given the licence.

“When I start, in June next year I’ll be given the licence.”

Asked about the Newcastle job, 50-year-old Roeder suggested there might be a way he could manage the club initially without having the licence.

“With the experience I’ve got at this level, there’s a good argument I should be allowed to,” he said.

Roeder admits that returning to management at Newcastle, who axed Graeme Souness at the start of February, has reawakened his interest in working at the highest level in club football.

“What I would say is that coming back and working with the seniors, I didn’t realise how much I’d missed them,” he said.

“I enjoyed working at the academy and would still enjoy working at the academy – but with the quality of the players we have, it’s a real pleasure being with them.

“It’s not a decision I can make – it’ll be made by the chairman. There’s a lot of speculation at the moment.”