He's the little known frontrunner to become next manager of Dundee United.
But according to a man who has over time called Tam Courts manager, team mate and brother, the 39-year-old is built of the same stuff you could say made Jim McLean the greatest figure in the club’s history.
Courts – currently head of tactical performance in the United academy – is the hot tip to replace Micky Mellon in the Tannadice hot-seat.
Despite having only ever managed Kelty Hearts, he is fancied to make the giant step from academy to first-team boss.
It’s a scenario that doesn’t fill every Arab with confidence. But Courts’ little brother Conrad reckons it’s one which would tick every box as the United hierarchy look to take a new direction to move the club forward.
He should know, having grown up with him before becoming teammates and then being managed by his elder brother at Kelty.
It’s hard not to be struck by the similarities to when McLean swept into the United dug out in 1971.
Courts also has a modest coaching background after five years at Kelty in which he saved the then Junior club from relegation then led them to their first ever Premier League title.
The ex- Livingston and East Fife defender is driven by a 24/7 appetite for football. And while little might be known about Courts the same can’t be said of his knowledge of his players.
He even knows when they are trying to pull the wool over his eyes, another famous characteristic of United legend McLean.
Courts junior said: “Thomas’ whole life is football. A lot of United fans, if he does get the job, might be up in arms because he has only really been a manager at Kelty.
“United seem to want to go in a direction where younger players are given more of a chance. Thomas has worked with these boys for the last two years.
“He will know every detail about each individual player on their books, and who is ready for the first team. He’s not wet behind the ears.
“At Kelty Garry Leighton had been on a stag do and was supposed to be back on the Tuesday morning.
“He messaged my brother to say he couldn’t make training as his flight had been delayed. Thomas went and checked the flight times and caught him out.
“Garry’s flight had got back on time but he’d stayed in Glasgow with his girlfriend! That’s the attention he pays to his players – good and bad.
“At Kelty he wasn’t just a manager but was a huge part in the off-field stuff to help them go from a Junior team to a senior team.
“Legal stuff and ensuring the park was up to a certain standard to get its SFA certificates. He deserves a little bit of the credit for what they have achieved.
“But as a coach he comes into his own. He makes players better footballers. But he also wants to make them better people.
“That’s why he has such a good reputation in youth coaching circles.
“Thomas was a manager with a recruitment company and built them up from nothing. He was doing really well.
“But he gave that up to focus on making a career in football.
“I never actually got on with him as a team mate! We were always at each other’s throats on the park.
“His desire and will to win - if you were having a bad game he would let you know all about it!
“It was the same when he became a manager and coach.
“He went studied a couple of teams in England and went to Holland to watch how NAC Breda do things.
“He’s just 24/7 football.”
Courts is currently working towards gaining his UEFA Pro Licence.
And his brother insists he is ready for a crack at the big time - just like former Livingston mate James McPake across the road at Dens Park.
He said: “He deserves a chance and if gets that I’m 100 per cent sure he will succeed because I know what he puts into it.
“It’s a bit like James McPake across the road at Dundee. They were actually at Livingston together as youngsters.
“Dundee took a chance on McPake and stuck by him when they had a sticky spell.
“Now look where they are.”
