GARY HOLT insists he has taken a step up in his career by leaving his post as Falkirk manager in favour of a return to a coaching role at Norwich City.

But the former Scotland internationalist is adamant he has left Scotland with a "heavy heart" and has not turned his back on management for good.

The 41-year-old took the reins at Westfield last April following the departure of Steven Pressley for Coventry City and steered his young team to the promotion play-offs before heartache in the semi-final against Hamilton Academical.

"Some people will say is it a step back from management or a step up to the Championship and a massive club?" Holt wondered. "I see it as a step up and another chapter in the Book of Holt. Don't get me wrong, management is something maybe in the future I'll want to get back into.

"I loved it. Falkirk is a great club with good people behind it. I'll have fewer problems to deal with but it was a great learning curve, and it's [with] a heavy heart I leave Falkirk."