JASON Dozzell admitted today that management had hardly entered his thoughts when he was recommended for the Ipswich Wanderers job less than four years ago.

By Elvin King

JASON Dozzell admitted today that management had hardly entered his thoughts when he was recommended for the Ipswich Wanderers job less than four years ago.

But he has taken to it like a duck to water - and says that he would show interest if a Football League job came along.

Dozzell, 39, led Wanderers to the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League in 2005 during his three seasons at Humber Doucy Lane.

He took over as Leiston manager this campaign and has led them to a top five position - and into tonight's final of the Club Colours Suffolk Premier Cup.

“I love being a manager,” said Dozzell. “The prospect had not really entered my head when my pal Dave Allard put my name forward to the Ipswich Wanderers.

“But it has worked out well and I enjoy every minute of it.

“I have plenty of work still to achieve with Leiston.

“However, if a suitable job in professional football became available I would show an interest.

“Opportunities are limited and ideally I would like to stay local as I have a young family, but yes, I would be interested in moving up.”

Dozzell stresses that he still has much to achieve with Leiston, looking to get them into Ryman League football.

“We applied this season, but it is not going to happen because we are not going to finish high enough in the table.

“But I will ensure that we apply again next season as I am ambitious to lift Leiston into a higher grade of football.

“I am happy to put myself under pressure to gain promotion from the Ridgeons League in 2007/08.

“I have a young and hungry squad and this is what I want. This is the ingredient for success.”

Dozzell will be sitting in the same dug-out tonight he occupied in 1983 before being sent on for his Ipswich Town debut as a 16-year-old by then Ipswich Town manager Bobby Ferguson.

“The memories will come flooding back,” said Dozzell.

“We are in the home dressing room and home dug-out and I can not wait.

“I used to sit in one corner of the dressing room when Bobby Ferguson was the Ipswich manager, and I will be looking for the same space tonight.”

Former England Under-21 international Dozzell appeared in more than 500 league games mainly for Ipswich (over 400), Tottenham and Colchester. He was briefly also with Northampton.

He worked alongside Glen Driver at Leiston, and took over the managerial reins when Driver left the club in the autumn.