Sturrock will stick to hunting for players and doubloons

Paul Sturrock will spend his time “hunting for pirates’ treasure” rather than return to football management.

The 61-year-old was last week brought in as an advisor to Dundee United manager Csaba Laszlo, weeks after initially taking on a role as the club’s chief scout in England.

Laszlo was forced to deny claims the move undermined his authority and the former United playing hero and boss is adamant he does not want the manager’s job.

The former Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday boss – whose last management role ended in 2015 at Yeovil – said: “I have my over-60s railcard; I have put in now for my bus pass, which I’m hoping will come very, very quickly.

“I have two pairs now of velcro shoes. I promised myself I would never buy velcro shoes but at my age now I really need them.

“Meaning… I am a retired manager. I have seen it, done it, got the T-shirt. This is my football club, this is who I support and that’s the reason I have come back, to help as much as possible.

“I am excited about my recruitment job, I’m really looking forward to doing that. And I am excited about getting back on the training ground.

“Myself and my partner have some horses; we’ve got two chihuahuas; we have a cockatiel; I’ve got a nice garden; I’m the captain of the pool team in the pub; I have a metal detector – I’m definitely going to find some pirates’ doubloons on the beaches of Cornwall.

“I have a fishing rod and I’m going to have a right go to see if I can catch some fish; I’m golfing – I am getting worse instead of better but I’m looking to improve my handicap. I have got all that.

“At the same time I am going to charge about the country trying to find the right players for this football club. That’s my job.”

Sturrock quit as United manager in 2000 and always claimed he had unfinished business with a club for whom he scored 171 goals in 574 games and helped to a league title, European Cup semi-final and Uefa Cup final.

“I would love to be involved from now until the end of the season in getting Dundee United promoted, or helping recruit players who will take us back into the Premiership,” he added.