Alex Salmond has said leaving Holyrood for the final time as First Minister was "very emotional" but he is still to make his mind up whether to stand again for Westminster in next year's general election.

Mr Salmond, who spent seven-and-a-half years in the top job in Scottish politics, is to be succeeded by his deputy Nicola Sturgeon, who will be voted into the role today.

He managed to "keep it together" when making his formal resignation statement to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, telling them his time as First Minister had been ''the privilege of his life".

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "After seven-and-a-half years as First Minister and also just trying to reflect on the progress the Parliament has made over 15 years, it was very emotional, of course it was. I managed to keep it together."

Being referred to as the former first minister "will take a bit of getting used to", he added.

When asked about his future plans, Mr Salmond said he had still to decide whether or not to return to the House of Commons, but dismissed speculation that he would stand against Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander in his Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency.

Mr Salmond told the Good Morning Scotland programme he would decide "in the next few weeks" if he would be a candidate in May's UK election.

But he stressed that if he did stand, it would be in the north east of Scotland.

"I've said on many, many occasions that my political home is in the north east of Scotland," Mr Salmond stated.

"Whatever else I do in politics would be in the north east of Scotland. I will be available to stand in the north east of Scotland in one capacity or another."

While he said Westminster had "limited appeal for me", he argued there could be "an opportunity for Scotland", as the nationalists could potentially hold the balance of power in a hung parliament.

That situation could result in the "best possible guarantee for progress" for Scotland, as SNP MPs could ensure promises made by Westminster leaders in the run-up to the independence referendum of substantial new powers for Holyrood are delivered.

But Mr Salmond said: "It's not necessarily the case that my presence is required to have that opportunity for Scotland."

He said polling suggested many Scots wanted another referendum to be held in the coming years, adding: "It's quite interesting that 20% of those who voted No thought there should be another referendum in 10 years.

"It does indicate that a vast number of people in the referendum campaign were saying not so much 'No' but 'Not yet'.

"The decisive feature of the last week of the referendum campaign was not whatever mistakes may or may not have been made by the Yes campaign, but was the offer of substantial change within the union, the last gasp offer that major powers would be transferred to Scotland if only Scotland voted No, that was was a decisive element in the campaign.

"Therefore it's really important that we make sure these commitments, that vow to Scotland, is now delivered."

He insisted there were no circumstances in which the SNP would do a deal with the Tories at Westminster.

Ms Sturgeon has already ruled out helping the Conservatives if David Cameron fails to win an overall majority of MPs in May - but has indicated she could work with Labour if certain conditions are met.

Mr Salmond said: "The position is clear, we won't give succour or support to the Conservative Party, but other possibilities could be pursued in Scotland's interests."

A formal coalition with Ed Miliband's party is "unlikely", he added.

Mr Salmond said: "Your best influence on these matters is usually on a case-by-case basis, you take each policy as it comes and negotiate substantially on the point you are trying to pursue.

"I'm not saying other options are ruled out, but I think a coalition is unlikely. It would be far better, I think, from a Scottish point of view, to extract the maximum advantage on a case-by-case basis.

"In the case of Westminster, a strong block of SNP MPs would have huge advantage for Scotland, in that sense if you hold the balance you hold the power."