Former Norwich City manager Peter Grant insists his turbulent time with the Canaries has not soured his love for football and wants to be back in the game as soon as possible.
The 42-year-old left Carrow Road by mutual consent on Tuesday evening after an emergency meeting with the club's board but he wants to return to the training pitch as soon as possible.
Grant's coaching abilities have never been in doubt ? it was the management of his players that many questioned and the Scot knew that results this season have not been good enough, forcing him to bite the bullet.
Public fall-outs with players, referees and more importantly the crowd gave Grant little breathing space to get the formula right at Carrow Road but he insists that he leaves with few regrets.
“The only regret is that I did not win enough games,” Grant told Sky Sports. “It's okay to be critical of the players but you've got to look at yourself as well and results dictated that I lost my job.
“My results were not good enough and I accept that. But I believe I've the abilities to be a good manager and hope I can learn from the experience of this year.”
A football man through and through, the former Celtic midfielder has already set about finding another job and you would not back against him finding another club in some coaching capacity by the end of the year.
Grant arrived at Carrow Road last October with a reputation as one of the best coaches in the UK. However, he has got to set about rebuilding this standing and must decide whether he wants another crack at being a manager or taking a coaching post as someone's assistant.
The stresses and strains of being the person to call all the shots appeared to take its toll on Grant in the final few games and it may suit the Scot to take more of a backseat in the future.
Whatever happens, you can rest assured that it will not be long before Grant is out on the training field once again.
“For the first time in 27 years I've got a day off from football,” added Grant. “But it's the best job in the world and I want to be back in it tonight.
“There's no better feeling in the world than getting up in the morning and going on a football pitch and I hope to be back as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the man who was made club captain by Grant has also spoken of his disappointment in the wake of the Scot's exit but Jason Shackell wants to make sure his team-mates are fully focused on turning round the Canaries' fortunes over the next few games.
The defeat at QPR has left City in the bottom three and smack, bang in the middle of a relegation battle for the moment and for whoever the manager is a week on Saturday against Bristol City, three points are a must.
Shackell insists that they must put their feelings for Grant to one side and give matters on the field their undivided attention.
“We need to get results quick,” he said. “The longer we stay in the relegation zone the harder it gets. We need to get some results together, get up that league table and then re-assess what's going on and then move on from there.
“I'm sure everybody will be talking about it (Grant's exit) for the next week or so. But we've got to get it out of our system over the weekend and then come back in Monday ready and raring to go for the game on Saturday.
“Everybody is going to have their own opinions but the simple answer is that we didn't play well enough and didn't get the results. That's why we're third from bottom in the league table. With the players in our squad we shouldn't be there.
“There's a lot going on but the boys have got to stick together. That's massively important and if we stick together on and off the pitch then we should be fine.”
City chief executive Neil Doncaster has revealed that several people have already contacted the club over their managerial vacancy and Shackell has backed the board to get the appointment right this time.
“As a player you want someone like the previous manager and the one before that,” the 24-year-old added. “I've never worked under a bad manager. You hear some stories but you want someone who's going to back you like the gaffer has in the past.
“You just don't want someone who is going to be an idiot. We've had some good managers here and I'm sure the board will make sure that we get another one.”
Many supporters have pointed to Grant's lack of experience as a manager as one of the major reasons for the Scot's lack of success and Shackell admitted the experience route may be an avenue the club pursue this time round.
“I know that Peter Grant did have respect from the players,” he said. “He had not been a first team manager before. Obviously if someone has been there and done it then it might make a little difference.
“Any manager that comes in the boys will give them respect. Obviously, the manager has got to inspire. But there's only so much he can do. Yes, he's got to take some of the responsibility as he picks the team. It doesn't all fall on the players ? it's a joint thing.”
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