NICKY Hunt wants to follow in Sam Allardyce’s footsteps and go into management.

The former Wanderers defender is currently coaching at Bolton School and UCLAN, alongside an assistant manager’s job at Warrington Rylands.

Even though the 39-year-old has now left his playing days behind him, he remains busy in football and hopes in time to graduate to a full-time managerial position.

“I’m happy playing Over-35s on a Sunday morning now, that’s about as much as I can handle,” he told The Bolton News. “I am busy at the minute, but I definitely want to get back into a full-time football job in the future.

“I am with Warrington Rylands and I am enjoying it but I’d like to make the step up and test myself. Ultimately, I want to be where Big Sam is famous for being, in the dugout and the manager of a football club.”

Hunt managed 400 league games, playing in all four divisions, but will be best known for his nine-year spell with Wanderers, where he played regularly in the Premier League under Big Sam.

The pair were reunited on Saturday for the Bolton Wanderers Remembrance Group’s annual charity game, and Hunt was happy to see his old boss had lost none of his enthusiasm on the touchline.

“He absolutely loves it still,” he said. “We had some good laughs – I asked him if he has still got his Copa Mondials from his old coaching days.

“He has mellowed a bit with me now. But I’d imagine he can still dish it out at some of the big clubs he has been at. He’s still feisty when he needs to be, though, don’t worry about that!”