Former Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez admits he needs to prove himself again as he looks to get back into management.Sanchez was sacked by Fulham in December after they fell into the bottom three in the Premier League - and the former Northern Ireland boss admits he was shocked to be axed.

The 48-year-old believes he was not given enough time to turn things round at Craven Cottage after helping them stave off relegation last season.

He told The Guardian: "It should be remembered I was brought in to keep Fulham in the Premier League and I did. Seventeen games the following season, I'm sacked. It was a shock to the system.

"I undertook what was perhaps the biggest rebuilding of a Premier League club that's ever been attempted.

"In the month I had at Fulham last season, I made it clear the squad needed to be rebuilt and we went about that process. I believe the squad is now better than the one I inherited."

And looking to the future, he added: "I haven't had any offers yet. Some people don't think I'm a good manager. I need to get out there and prove them wrong.

"I'm open to everything but I consider myself a Premier League manager. I've worked at that level now, despite being sacked after only eight months."

Sanchez is also unhappy that his style of football at Fulham was criticised.

He continued: "I like my teams to be attacking, which means putting plenty of balls into the opposition boxes and making sure my defenders do not lose the ball in their own half. These are basic things all managers do.

"I've been tagged 'direct' because I played for Wimbledon but most football these days is direct. At the end of the day I just want to play winning football."

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