DEREK WHYTE apologises for the quality of biscuits on offer. 'I think someone has held them under a tap then left them on my desk,' he says.
Behind his seat hangs a picture of the Partick Thistle co-management team sitting on Thomas The Tank Engine-style kids' cars.
The caption at Derek's mouth says 'I still think we should have held aff for something better.'
Gerry's says 'Ach well, at least it's transport.' The Firhill gaffers' office is a fun place. Whyte and co-boss Britton bounce gags off each other and have the makings of a comedy double act - Gerry the madskull and Derek his straight sidekick. They'd certainly be better than some of the garbage currently on telly.
Once the laughs are out of the way Whyte goes into detail about the hectic summer the duo have had trying to bring new players in to boost Jags' chances of promotion straight back up to the SPL.
He's been in the job eight months but the first six didn't prepare him for the frantic nature of the last two. Football management has taken over his life - right into his bedroom.
He explained: 'The job has been excellent, the only disappointment so far being we didn't manage to stay up.
'It's been a hectic summer, non-stop. When I was a player would be in at the club on average four hours a day. I could switch off as soon as I'd showered and changed after training.
'Being a manager is so different and time consuming. You have to organise training, catch up with paperwork and phone calls and make sure the players are in good spirits.
'It's impossible to step away totally from the job. It's not like you lock your office door at night and your work is done.
'It never leaves you. In fact I've woken up during the night a couple of times in a panic wondering if I had remembered to phone an agent about a player or made sure we registered a signing. don't think it's good for the heart.
'However, I'd never complain too much. I have been given an excellent opportunity and I'm thankful. It's also a pleasure to work with a guy like Gerry.
'He knows his stuff and is one of the outstanding up and coming coaches in British football.'
Whyte and Britton were both brought up in the West of Scotland and have working class values. Whyte though has met players with a different attitude to his.
At Middlesbrough, boss Bryan Robson loaded the club with highly-paid, under-achieving foreigners such as Emerson, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Mickel Beck plus a few British players who strutted their way down the Riverside road to riches.
Whyte said: 'Some of the foreign boys brought good habits and were extremely professional.
'Others clearly didn't give a monkey's and as soon as they had signed two or three-year contracts they put their feet up and got the cigars out.
'I found that hard to take. I wasn't earning anywhere near the money they were but was giving my all.
'The whole thing was surreal. Financially, most of us weren't on their level.
'That's why I feel much more comfortable in an environment like Thistle.
'Most of the lads are Scottish and have similar backgrounds. It's easy to sit down and have a blether with the players here, not that I didn't feel comfortable being involved in a conversation with the Middlesbrough lads.
'It's just that every guy in our dressing room will give his lot.
'We might not win every game but we will get every last ounce out of them.
'Our lads don't earn big wages but the contracts they are on mean they will get good money if they are playing and the team is winning.
'They want to be able to pay the mortgage, the car loan and go out for a nice meal on a Saturday night.
'On the wages here they have to work to be able to do all that. You can't sign your contract then sit back and relax.
'I'm glad we're all the same. I'm still ambitious and motivated to get out of my bed in the morning. Even if had £5million in the bank, which don't, I'd still want to do something with my life.
'I'd still want to be in a job like this.'
The players have responded well to the Jags management. When Whyte and Britton were installed last December the club had just two league points but finished the season on 26.
Whyte, 36 later this month, was fairly pleased with that and reckons good man-management had a lot to do with it.
He said: 'There is a fine line between having a laugh and making sure you are respected by your players. Gerry and I have struck a decent balance between when to have a carry on and when to put the work in.
'The most important thing is the guys enjoy coming in here in the morning, are learning every day and prepared properly to get a victory on match day. We make sure we encourage our players to improve and try to highlight the positives in their game.
'Sure, we also get them to work on their negatives but we try not to make a big thing out of the bad points otherwise their confidence will be destroyed.
'We have a structure at the club and it is improving all the time.
'We want to see kids coming through and it is great for Partick Thistle to have two players - Ian Cameron and John McGoldrick - in the Scotland Under-17 set-up.
'I know criticism was aimed at the club by certain people in the media for appointing us and it will be up to us this season to justify the decision.
'It was said Gerry and I didn't have the experience but where do you get experience?
'Sir Alex Ferguson and Martin O'Neill had to start somewhere. Now have started somewhere and so has Gerry.
'It wouldn't surprise me if certain people would like to see us fail and be out of a job before the end of this season but that's the nature of football. I'm comfortable with criticism. I never have and never will be afraid of it.
'If this job doesn't work out and I am sacked next week or next month then so be it. The axe doesn't scare me.
'The only way to avoid losing your job is to be successful. We aim to take Partick Thistle straight back up to the SPL.
'I have a feeling it will be a really close title race though. St Johnstone, Ross County, Falkirk and ourselves will all be in about it and I'd like to think we will be in contention going into the final handful of games.
'I can't see any side running away with the league although I'd love it if we did.
'I'm looking forward to doing my bit to help the club progress.
'I can't play anymore and it means I can concentrate fully on this role.
'Anyway, I don't miss playing. had 20 years at an excellent level and it was time to step down.
'My knee wasn't holding up to the rigours of football and I was told if I carried on I was risking walking with a limp five years down the line. There and then hung up my boots.'
Whyte enjoyed a successful playing career with Celtic and Middlesbrough although latterly it was all about scrapping when he joined Aberdeen then Partick Thistle.
With a clutch of medals to treasure he feels it has all been worthwhile. However, leading Jags to glory this season would top the lot.
He said: 'My career has been good. I won the title in my first full season with Celtic when we pipped Hearts on the last day.
'Then I won the double in Celtic's centenary year in 1988 and that was different class.
'I also enjoyed my time at Boro. The club spent fortunes on transfer fees and wages and we won the First Division title and reached two cup finals. I suppose the times you are successful will always be remembered fondly.
'It would be nice if a few more good times were ahead. I'd love to win the league with Partick this season. That would give me as much pleasure as anything I've achieved in the game.'
From Mail Sport Weekly