FORMER Town goalkeeper and coach Kevin Blackwell says he is ready to return to football after a five-month absence.

The 48-year-old, who was at Town during the Neil Warnock days, has been travelling Europe and South America learning new coaching techniques since being sacked by Leeds last September.

Blackwell, who has also coached at Sheffield United, said: "I hope my record speaks for itself.

"I have reached four semi-finals and two finals in the last four years so I must be doing something right."

Blackwell was Warnock's right-hand man at Bramall Lane before becoming head coach at Leeds in 2003.

He succeeded Eddie Gray as Elland Road boss in May 2004 and guided his side to the Championship play-off final last season.

"I have not wasted my time away," added Blackwell.

"I am one of the most qualified coaches in Europe but I still think you have got to try to learn more and that is why I chose to go abroad.

"It is difficult to know which way to go. I am proven as a coach and I have shown I can manage.

"I have always thought it is important to have an open mind and I accept I need to have one over which direction my career goes."

Meanwhile another ex-Town man, Kevin Gray, is working towards his first coaching badge.

The Carlisle player, 35, attends sessions each Monday.

"Hopefully I still have a few more years as a player," said the man whose Carlisle contract ends this summer.

"But I have been thinking about what to do once I finish and coaching is probably one of the things I could get into, because I'm sure I would enjoy it."