SITTING in the boardroom instead of being at the coal face of football management was a career move Jimmy Calderwood never considered as a likely one.

But after receiving a call from Cowdenbeath chairman Donald Findlay, the ex-Pars and Aberdeen boss saw the unlikely switch from dugout to directors box happen when his appointment to the Central Park board was confirmed last Friday.

Since rescuing Ross County from the threat of First Division relegation in 2011, the 61-year-old has been left on the Scottish football sidelines, with his last management job coming with Dutch outfit De Graafschap in 2014.

Calderwood admits that he still has a desire to return to work as a boss but, speaking to Times Sport, said he is relishing his new role with the "warm club" that is the Blue Brazil.

When asked if he ever envisaged himself working as a director, he commented: "Never. Football has been my whole life and I think the chairman wants to pick my brains about certain things, but I was surprised when he asked me. If you can help people that you know and like then I think you may as well do it, but he is not a man to say no to! I know Donald and the board well but it has only been two weeks so we'll have to wait and see what the chairman wants me to bring. I didn't expect to be a director and have to keep calm - I was never calm in the dugout that's for sure!

"I'm amazed myself but the chairman gave me a call and said he thinks I can bring a lot to the club. The rest of the directors have been on holiday but, unless I'm asked by the manager and Jason (Dair, assistant manager), then I don't think I'll be involved on the football side.

"I miss it (management) so much and I don't know what happened. It's in the blood; I'm still young enough to do it and my record is up there with anybody. I have no divine right to be there but I do wonder what I've done because when you look through the records, there are not really any negatives. Maybe something will come up but I love watching the games.

"When Jimmy (Nicholl) was manager, I was invited a few times by the chairman. I lived in Dunfermline in those days and they were good with me; it's a warm club and the board are good people."

Calderwood is delighted to have been given a route back into the game at Central Park and he paid tribute to the club's supporters for a "brilliant" reception at Saturday's Betfred Cup clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He continued: "The supporters were brilliant on Saturday and were coming up to me and saying 'thanks for coming to our club', which was really nice. I was surprised at the reception but I'll probably get dogs abuse on Saturday (when Dunfermline visit in the Betfred Cup)!

"The chairman said I could pick and choose what games I come to but I said to him that if I'm going to do it then I'm going to do it right. I've seen them twice and they did well; they have a good team and hopefully will make a good start when the league starts. They will probably be one of the favourites to get out of the league and I know the chairman will be pressing for.

"The board want to get the club back to where they think it should be and they are real football people. The chairman is a winner and kicks every ball, but I can't sit beside him and need to have a space of three seats. Otherwise I might get a kick from him!

"We'll wait and see what he wants me to bring but I'm looking forward to it."

Findlay added: "Jimmy brings a real wealth of football knowledge and experience to Central Park.

"He knows the game inside out and I am very pleased that we are able to augment the board in this way as we strive to work our way back up the leagues.

"I am sure all our fans will give Jimmy a very warm greeting."