Ex-Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet has not ruled out managing his former club next season but would prefer to lead Brighton in the Premier League.
Poyet has been manager of Brighton and Hove Albion since November 2009 and has led the club to within striking distance of promotion to the English Premier League this season.
The 45-year-old Uruguayan has received plenty of plaudits for his work on the English south coast and, with Chelsea likely to be looking for a new manager, Poyet has been strongly linked with the job at the club where he played 105 games from 1997 to 2001.
But Poyet would much prefer to make his Premier League managerial debut with Brighton if possible.
When? Where? Time will tell (when he will manage in the Premier League), Poyet said.
Me, I would like to do it with Brighton because it will be an unbelievable achievement.
But if not we ll see in the future.
Brighton sit sixth in the English Championship with 11 games to go and if they can maintain that position they will have a chance of promotion through the playoffs.
The south coast club have not played in England s top tier since the 1982/83 season but even if they do not get promoted this season, Poyet is confident Brighton are on the right track.
I always say that I hope it takes not too long to get there because like any other manager or player in the world you want to get to the top as quickly as possible but everybody can see the steps are being made in the right way, Poyet said.
We re not in a hurry but I think we ve got a great chance, sooner or later, to get in the Premier League.
Poyet is not the only ex-Chelsea player managing in the Championship to be mentioned as a replacement for interim coach Rafael Benitez.
Gianfranco Zola, who is in charge of second-placed Watford, has also been linked with the position of Chelsea manager and Poyet would have no problems if the 46-year-old Italian got the job.
If I got the chance, it would be fantastic, Poyet said.
If Gianfranco (got it), I would be delighted, not only for him but for the Chelsea fans as well.
