Neil McDonald – despite failing to agree terms to become Carlisle United boss – still wants to boss a club in the future.

Macca was very much the favourite to take over at his former club Keith Curle was finally appointed as the new boss at Brunton Park, after talks broke down with the Irons training ground guru.

London 24.com reports McDonald as saying: “Obviously they sacked their manager and they phoned up West Ham to ask permission to speak to me, which was granted.

“I had been at Carlisle before as manager and I had always kept in touch with the managing director at the time, though not on a regular basis, but I had a great working relationship.”

Macca had been appointed as Carlisle boss in the summer of 2006, taking them to eighth place in League One in his first season, before beingfired sacked just one game into the new season.

The former MD John Nixon now one of the owners and when the manager’s job came up, he turned to McDonald.

The Irons no 2 said: “He had always said he wanted me to come back, so this was the first opportunity he had had to seek an opportunity to speak to me since I left.

“I also had a really good relationship with chairman Andrew Jenkins as well, so there was two of them.

“Out of respect I went and spoke to them. I went and watched a game which kicked off all the rumours that I was going to take the job. But when we did speak, we couldn’t agree terms if you know what I mean.”

He’s ready to take the right chance when it appears though saying: “I want to have a go – I am desperate to have a go, but I am really enjoying the job I am doing at the moment.aid.

“If anything else comes up then we will take it on its merits and see what happens, but I am very, very happy here.”

“I have managed in League One before, so I’d like to think I could do that. In the last five or six years with Sam at Blackburn and West Ham things have been very good and there has been progress every year.”

He continued: “Your name starts to get mentioned because you are part of that success, but it has to be right for my family, so if that means biding my time I will do that.

“If I have to stay at West Ham, there is no hardship is there?!”