Mariner does not rule out return to England

PLYMOUTH Argyle legend Paul Mariner has admitted he would be interested in returning to English football.

Mariner's coaching career, to date, has solely been in the United States.

The 56-year-old has been the assistant boss to former Liverpool star Steve Nicol at the Boston-based New England Revolution since 2003.

The Revolution are currently fighting for a place in Major League Soccer's end-of-season play-offs.

Mariner (pictured right) revealed he had never been offered a chance to continue his coaching career in this country.

But the former Argyle and England international striker would consider any invitations in the future.

Mariner said: "I have been asked many times whether I would like to work in England but I have never had the opportunity.

"When the opportunity comes along, I will make that decision.

"At the present moment, I have got a couple of things in the States that are different to the MLS and they are on the table.

"I have got a decent reputation out there. I love Boston and everything is hunky-dory, but I'm probably in the house for half of the year.

"I'm always travelling, scouting and looking at players. It's a nomadic life whatever you do in football."

There has been speculation Mariner could be a possible candidate should a managerial vacancy arise at Argyle.

Pilgrims' boss Paul Sturrock has been under intense pressure after the club's poor start to the Championship season.

But Mariner has offered his best wishes to Sturrock, whose team have won their last two matches after losing seven successive games.

Mariner spent time with Sturrock at his home on Monday night, prior to attending a media call in Plymouth.

He was on a flying visit from the States to promote Plymouth's bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup.

Mariner and Sturrock have in common the fact that they played in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, for England and Scotland respectively.

They reminisced about those finals when Mariner visited Sturrock.

Mariner said: "Even though we didn't play together and our paths very rarely crossed, there is the common language of football.

"We were sat there in his house and, all of a sudden, eight hours went by and I don't even know where it went. We had a great time together.

"He's just an extremely knowledgeable, nice person who I really took to and we will certainly keep in touch."

Mariner follows the fortunes of all his former clubs, not only Argyle but Ipswich Town, Arsenal and Portsmouth.

Argyle and Ipswich are currently two of the bottom three teams in the Championship.

Mariner said: "It's just sad Ipswich and Plymouth are where they are at the moment.

"I'm not sure what's going on at Ipswich but I know that Plymouth have had a lot of injuries.

"I wish Paul and his staff all the best and I hope everything works out."