Former Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow is ready to return to management.

Warrilow, 59, has been out of football since leaving the Nuts & Bolts at the end of last season.

The break has given him a chance to get his new business off the ground but it’s time to get back in the dugout.

Warrilow has enjoyed plenty of success, taking Tonbridge into Conference South and reaching two play-off finals with Ashford.

He also pulled off the most unlikely escape from relegation after stepping in to help Cray Wanderers.

“I had a few things off the pitch to sort out but I’ve done that now and I am looking to get back into it,” said Warrilow.

“I’m 100% ready to get back but there’s a lot of managers out of work.

“You’ve got to be patient and not have some massive ego that you’ve a divine right to get any job.

“I have missed management. I’m a football man. It’s been my life since I was 16. You don’t just come out of the game and say you’ve had enough of it. That was never the case.

“I’m an all-or-nothing person - I’m 100% in or I’m nothing at all.

“If we’d been having this conversation a month ago I would have said I wasn’t ready but everything’s settled off the pitch now.

“Hopefully something, somewhere comes up along the line that suits both parties and I can get back in the swing of things and do what I love doing the most.

“I’m not desperate - there’s a difference between being passionate and being desperate - but if I’m in I will give my all.

“Where or when that happens, I couldn’t tell you, but I’m a great believer in fate and what will be, will be.

“The unfortunate thing about getting a job is it means someone else has had a tough time, which is never nice, but it’s football.”

Warrilow has tended to stay away from matches - out-of-work bosses turning up at grounds always leads to questions.

Instead, he’s been watching a lot of football documentaries, seeing how other bosses work.

It’s been interesting for the former centre-back, who’s always open to new ideas.

Ultimately, though, you have to be yourself in management.

“I don’t think you can change who you are,” said Warrilow.

“I’d like to think I’m always honest and straight.

“Of course there are things you’d change - you’re never too old to learn - but regarding style of management, I wouldn’t change.

“Shape with the ball, shape without the ball - things like that have changed - but I wouldn’t change the way I manage because the most important thing is managing the players.

“You’ve got to look after all different individuals and that’s the hard bit of managing.

“I love my shape and my patterns of play but at our level you’ve got boys who work and it’s about managing them and treating them as individuals.

“I still want to improve as a manager - anything that improves me I take on board - but you have to be yourself.

“If it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough but I’ll always be able to look in the mirror and know I’ve given everything I’ve got.

“I’ll always fall on my sword if it’s down to me, not a problem, but you’ve got have a thick skin in the football industry and believe in what you’re doing.

“I’ve been out of it for the right reasons but to be out of it full-time - I’m not ready for that.

“I’ve got a lot more years to give and hopefully I can find somewhere to do that.”