Tommy Smith: Brentford benefit from Mark Warburton's outlook

Tommy Smith has scored one goal in eight appearances since joining Brentford this summer

Brentford's Tommy Smith thinks Mark Warburton's background away from the game gives the club a fresh outlook.

Warburton worked as a City trader after retiring from playing, but left his job to become a football coach and was appointed Bees manager last December.

"There is a different approach to a lot of managers I have worked with," forward Smith told BBC London 94.9.

"With any walk of life, to have experience away from what you are doing does open up your horizons."

Warburton, 52, spent the bulk of his playing days at non-league side Enfield, during which time he began working as a trader in the City of London.

After coaching at a local school, he joined Watford's academy set-up in the mid-2000s and spent almost four years as the Hornets' academy manager.

He joined Brentford in 2011, becoming sporting director that summer, and was then appointed manager at the end of last year when Uwe Rosler left Griffin Park to join Wigan.

Warburton spent time working as a trader in London, Chicago, North Carolina and the Far East

"It helps having a background away from football sometimes," Smith, 34, added.

"One-dimensional thinking becomes open-minded and multi-dimensional.

"There is a lot of feedback and players' opinions that are being asked. It is a very open-minded organisation we have got here."

Former Watford and Queens Park Rangers man Smith has interests of his own outside of football, running an estate agency with his brother.

"It doesn't detract from my football at all. I love having something to do when I go home and have a focus," Smith said.

"It keeps me busy and I really enjoy trying to help that grow.

"It works the other way round as well. Sometimes it is nice to come in, forget about stuff and get playing."

Brentford are currently sixth in the Championship, in what is their first campaign in the second tier since 1992-93.

"I think we've surprised a lot of people," Smith added.

"When we came into this league everyone was under the impression that we had to establish ourselves as a Championship club.

"Nothing has changed from that. We are sitting sixth and to finish near there would be brilliant for the club."