Jim Duffy has quit second division Brechin City to pursue a hoped-for return to full-time football.
But on Wednesday night he insisted he had nothing lined up, despite being linked with the managerial vacancies at St Mirren and Morton.
Duffy resigned after 16 months at the helm, taking City to the play-off semis in his first season and the play-off final this season.
He did so after having to contend for the past two months with his father battling cancer a fight that he lost at the weekend.
Duffy said, “There’s nothing sinister in my leaving.
“I just feel it’s time to try to get back into full-time football, if I can.
“I think I’ve done pretty well operating on a part-time basis with Brechin you’d have said very well if we’d won the play-off there on Saturday.”
He added, “But it’s time to look for a fresh challenge and by going now I’m ensuring that whoever takes over at Brechin will have a proper chance to get to know the players before next season gets under way.
“Brechin have been very good to me. I’ve had a really good time and I wouldn’t want to do anything that hindered their progress.
“I actually spoke to the chairman about my situation two weeks ago but we decided to leave it until now.”
Duffy said, “I’ve nothing lined up. I’m aware there are jobs going in England and Scotland but I’ve not applied for any other post, either formally or informally.
“I’ve had other things to think about.”
City chairman Ken Ferguson admitted he would have preferred not to have to look for a new manager but revealed the Glebe Park outfit won’t be hanging about.
He said, “I would rather Jim had stayed. He has done a fine job for us and put together a good squad.
“Most of the players are re-signed, leaving us in a pretty strong position, and we would have liked to have Jim leading us on to better things. But we respect his decision.”
He added, “Jim has had a lot to deal with in his personal life, but he has kept that private and been very professional in his management.
“Now we’ll give some thought to things and see who applies for the vacancy.”
Duffy said, “But we are keen to move quite quickly.
“The close season is not a quiet time for football clubs and we need to get a manager in place to get all the arrangements made for next season.”
Possible contenders for the vacancy include former St Johnstone midfielder Paul Sheerin and ex-Hearts coach Stevie Frail.