Former Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell hopes his early coaching grounding with the Staggies will stand him in good stead for a fresh challenge away from the Highlands.
Kettlewell was sacked by the Dingwall club last month and replaced by John Hughes, after a poor run of form left the Staggies bottom of the Premiership.
It ended Kettlewell’s 11-year association with the club, having initially joined as a midfielder from Clyde in 2009 before moving into coaching.
Kettlewell led the Staggies’ under-20s side to the Development League title in 2017 before becoming co-manager of the first team along with Steven Ferguson the following year, in a management team which guided the club to the Championship title and IRN-BRU Cup in 2019.
Kettlewell solely became manager last summer, but a failure to build on a promising start to the season led to his dismissal by chairman Roy MacGregor.
The 36-year-old, who is from Cumbernauld, is now likely to return to the central belt, but hopes his track record at a young age will be looked upon fondly in pursuit of his next opportunity.
Kettlewell said: “I don’t know what the future holds for me.
“Breaking it down to the coaching and management chunk, I feel as if I have lived a life already at the age of 36.
“I have got over 100 games as a manager under my belt, with a couple of pieces of silverware, and I have pitted my wits against some of the top managers in the country.
“I feel as if I’m all the better for that experience. A lot of people will have more years in the coaching and management side of things who maybe haven’t been fortunate enough to experience what I’ve had in the last six years.
“Winning the Development League with the under-20s, winning promotion from the Championship and winning the Challenge Cup, and keeping the team in the Premiership, for me has been pretty significant over the last six years.
“Whatever comes around the corner, I hope from a selfish point of view people will look at that and think that could be a good mix with another football club or a different role.”
Despite experiencing the cut throat nature of management, Kettlewell says his long-held ambition to lead from the front has been undeterred.
He added: “I have spoken to people that have gone into management and not particularly enjoyed it, they have realised pretty quickly they did not have the appetite for it they thought.
“I can honestly say I do have a huge appetite to coach and manage, and hopefully lead something.
“Thinking about the management side of things, I don’t have any reservations over it. I don’t have any regrets, or doubts whether I could do it again.
“In a broader spectrum, I would like to be somebody that leads an aspect, and takes responsibility.”
After taking the decision to relieve Kettlewell of his duties, MacGregor revealed he would be offered the chance to return to his previous academy post.
Having considered his next steps, Kettlewell says it is unlikely he will return to the club and is making primitive plans to return closer to home.
He added: “It was loosely spoken about when Roy first delivered the news that someone else would take over.
“It was too early at that point for me to make a call. Looking at it now, I think it’s potentially time for a fresh challenge. An angle that I have looked at is wondering how much more I could achieve at the club.
“I like to think I’ve been as good for the club as it has been to me. I have always given everybody everything I’ve got.
“Ultimately in football sometimes that journey ends and you’re looking for a different avenue.
“Maybe it’s time for me to look down that route and see whatever else is out there.
“Along with my family, we are thinking this might be the right time to potentially move down the road.
“That may potentially open up some different options for me moving forward.”
