Exclusive by Stuart Roach

Lawrie Sanchez is keen for a speedy return to management

Former NI international Lawrie Sanchez has joined the race to take over from Sammy McIlroy as Northern Ireland manager.

Sanchez, who is also applying for the vacant Millwall job, was sacked by Wycombe last month but has told BBC Sport he is keen to test himself as an international manager.

The former Wimbledon player, who won three caps for Northern Ireland and began his managerial career with Sligo Rovers, said: "I would definitely be interested.

"I played in Northern Ireland and I've still got family in Northern Ireland and international management is something that I would very much be interested in talking about," Sanchez said.

He added: "I don't know quite what their criteria are but the only way you get interviews is if you send your CVs off.

"They do say you are not a real manager until you have had the sack, though I had hoped I wouldn't have to go via that route.

I want to manage at a higher level Lawrie Sanchez

"There are a small number of jobs, but an awful lot of people out there who think they can do them.

"Millwall is a great club. It's a real football club where the fans make it known whether they are enjoying their football or not.

"I want to get back and I'm looking for jobs that will let me take the next step.

"With the greatest respect to the Second Division, I want to manage at a higher level than that.

"It may seem silly to apply for jobs above that station but I want to get into the First Division and, ultimately, higher."

Sanchez was shown the door at Wycombe after four years, paying the price for a poor start to the season.

But he insists his enforced break from the game has left him feeling hungry to return to management as quickly as possible.

Wycombe sack Sanchez

"I took a week off and went to Spain, chilled out down there, read some books and got away from the hullabaloo.

"Then I came back and updated my CV, which hasn't been updated for five years and started to send it off.

"I want to get back into management as soon as possible. This is the first time I have been unemployed in 25 years of my working life.

"I don't want to wait six months or a year until I get back in, I want to be having an influence on a team this year."