TWO-time championship winner Ernie Merrick, dumped unceremoniously by Melbourne Victory early this year, is ready to get back on the A-League coaching horse.

The A-League's most successful and longest tenured coach until his sudden sacking in March, Merrick has used his time away from the game to refresh the mind and spirit on holidays while keeping his football brain sharp and educated.

Merrick is ready to step back into the A-League coaching fire and preparing to make himself available for any vacancies that arise at season's end, although he may be tempted if a coach is fired mid-campaign.

"My aim is to get back into the A-League at the end of the season," Merrick said yesterday. "I've taken advantage of my time away from the game and I'm ready to start looking at options down the track.

"I've had six or seven months' complete break and I've got the hunger back, although I shouldn't say that because the hunger never went away. But I'm refreshed and ready to coach in the A-League again."

It is possible that at least three jobs could become vacant between now and season's end with Perth Glory and Melbourne Heart most under scrutiny, while Sydney FC is always a hot seat. Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United are longer shots for coaching changes.

The most intriguing possibility would be Merrick as a candidate to replace John van't Schip, who is out of contract at Heart, but the former Victory boss would not be drawn on the notion of joining his one-time city rival.

"I'm not going to talk about specific clubs," Merrick said. "I'll keep all my options open."

An overseas appointment - especially in Asia - would not be out of the question for Merrick, but he would prefer to return to coaching in the A-League if possible.

Originally published as Merrick ready to coach again