91Èȱ¬

Jim Leighton admits his career as a full-time goalkeeping coach is probably over after being sacked by Aberdeen at the end of the season.

Manager Craig Brown had brought the ex-Scotland keeper back to the club a year after in 2009.

But after current boss Derek McInnes dispensed with his services, Leighton, 56, said: "I don't ever see myself working full-time in football again.

"That's disappointing, especially with the way the team has been going."

Leighton, who played almost 400 league games for Aberdeen, told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme that the meeting with McInnes last month that terminated his employment "was a very short conversation".

"There's no point in me saying what I thought about it because he was never going to change his mind," said Leighton, who won the European Cup-Winners' Cup with the Dons in 1983.

"He gave me a couple of reasons why but I'm not going to get into that. Needless to say, I was very, very disappointed.

"Everybody knows how delighted I was to come back to Aberdeen when Craig invited me back a few years ago. Aberdeen is my club, always has been my club.

"It's not exactly how I would like it to have finished but it wasn't my decision."

And the keeper, who served the Dons as a player and coach for 27 years, added: "I would only stay in Aberdeen so you really rule yourself out of working anywhere else.

"I would like to continue to work with the Under-21s, if the new coach that comes in wants me there.

"That would keep me in football, but as far as full-time would go, no, I'm looking to get a job outside football now.

"I'm too much of a home bird now to be moving elsewhere."

A statement on the quoted McInnes saying: "I would like to thank Jim for his contribution as a member of my team since I arrived at the club.

"Everyone connected with Aberdeen Football Club wishes Jim all the very best for the future."