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Last Updated: Thursday, 7 September 2006, 06:33 GMT 07:33 UK
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Curbishley sets sights on return
Alan Curbishley
Curbishley left Charlton at the end of last season
Alan Curbishley is targeting a full-time return to management before the end of the year after his six-month break from football.

But the 48-year-old, who quit as Charlton boss in May, insists the Premiership was not his sole target.

He told BBC Sport: "From October I'll put myself back on the market.

"But I'm fairly open - I wouldn't just say I want a return to the Premiership and nothing else. The Championship interests me too."

Despite revealing his ambitions, the former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder, speaking after the launch of his autobiography 'Valley of Dreams', insisted he would not be paying close attention to the managerial sack race.

Curbishley said: "Just because I want a return to management doesn't mean I would want to wish any ill will on the current crop of Premiership managers. I'm not suddenly going to see 'X' struggling, rub my hands with glee and think 'here goes'.

"I know the pressure that that sort of job entails - you certainly don't need it worsened by someone like me mouthing off."

Curbishley has already been linked with the previously vacant posts at Sunderland and Aston Villa during his six-month sabbatical, which have since been handed to Roy Keane and Martin O'Neill respectively.

And after ruling himself out of all managerial talk until October, he said people had started to get the wrong impression.

"A lot of people seem to have got the idea that I've retired," he said, "which is completely wrong. I just wanted a break, I've enjoyed it and I'm ready to come back."

Posted By: bringbacktheglory, Sep 25, 22:54:52