Veteran Dion Dublin today admitted he would have to think “very carefully” if he was approached by the board to become the next Norwich City manager.
The 38-year-old insisted he has not applied for the job but said that if the opportunity came along then it would be difficult to turn down the manager's hot-seat at Carrow Road.
Dublin has been one of the bookmakers' favourites to take over from Peter Grant but it was understood that when his playing career finished he did not want to go into management.
A career in the media had been mooted but his comments will give the City board some food for thought as they continue to work through a shortlist of applicants.
“If I was asked about doing the job then I would have to think about it because a job like this might not come along again for the whole of my career,” said Dublin, who was at caretaker manager Jim Duffy's side on the bench during the 3-1 defeat to Bristol City at the weekend.
“It wouldn't be a choice to go into management after football, not completely. In saying that if something comes along that you can't turn down ? like something as big as a job like Norwich City ? you have to think about it very carefully.
“I can't say no to something like that. I may say no when asked but at this present time I cannot say no.”
Dublin said he had not been approached by the board for advice over the next City manager but feels that he knows what the team are missing and could help the team in their current plight as they sit just one place off the bottom of the table.
“It's a hard one to answer because in the situation we are in at the moment I feel as though I know what I could do to help the team as a manager,” he said.
“You think 'hold it a minute, do I know how to get this team where it wants to go?' I feel I have that.
“It's not a direction I would take. But you only get one chance now and again and if something comes along that is special ? ie Manchester United, Celtic ? then you have got to grab it.”
Despite a lack of managerial experience, Dublin would be a popular choice with both fans and players as the former Manchester United and Celtic striker is someone the whole squad look to whenever the going gets tough.
But whoever the City board go for, Dublin believes that motivational qualities should be high up on the criteria they want in the next boss.
“I think anybody that gets the job has to have motivational skills in the position we are in,” he said. “He must know the individual players' needs. Some players need a kick up the backside and some need an arm around them.
“I think ranting and raving is not going to work for us. In saying that ranting and raving might have done us some good over the past few weeks. But knowing your players is going to be a massive thing.
“I think we have enough quality in the players. It's just getting the best out of those individuals to make it a formidable team.”
One of Peter Grant's failings was a lack of experience to turn to when the pressure was on but Dublin believes there are people out there with no managerial experience that could pull City away from the relegation zone.
Whether the way things worked out with Grant will put the board off another appointment with no previous managerial experience remains to be seen.
The likes of Roy Keane and Aidy Boothroyd have made successes of their first jobs in management and there is no reason why Dublin, with the wealth of experience he has built up though his playing career, couldn't do the same.
“I know people out there who haven't been managers but know the game like the back of their hand and they could possibly come in and do a job,” said Dublin.
“On the other hand there are managers who could come in and do a job. I just know that whatever manager comes in is going to have a very hard battle on their hands to get us where we should be, which is in the top half of the table.
“Without a doubt he will have the personnel to make us go that way. It's how he gets the quality out of that personnel.”
Dublin is trying to put all the speculation over City's future to one side at the moment as he looks to overcome a fractured vertebra, thought to have been sustained against QPR.
He revealed that the injury is starting to feel a lot better but he cannot put a timeframe upon when he will be ready for first team action again.
“I can't give you a date but I know that I'm feeling better. I'm moving about the pitch better than I would have thought at this stage and things are going the right way.
“It's very frustrating. I think the back and neck injuries are things that you cannot really rush. This is my last season and I don't want the game to say when I have to leave it.”
Dublin was speaking as the Canaries announced they are producing 5,000 special edition commemorative shirts to mark the achievement of averaging 20,000 season ticket holders over the last three seasons.
“It is an incredible number for a club of its size. We all know it's not huge. There are some massive clubs out there, but this one seems to have maintained loyalty.
“For the fans to be buying 20,000 season tickets is superb. Everyone knows that I think we owe them something.
“They have been supporting us when they feel they we need supporting and having a go at us over the last few games, which I think we have deserved.
“Over the results we have had, it's completely justified. We haven't performed, we've had bad results but it's not through the want of trying.
“Come Saturday it just doesn't seem to be working for us. I do think a lot of it is luck. But I do think a lot of it is that we haven't performed as well as we should have. They have their right to air their views. When we start winning we might get the comments we want to hear.”
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