DEAN Crombie never thought he would hear himself say it but, after almost 30 years in the game, he is not missing his daily football fix.

The former Wanderers' stalwart is currently working on a range of projects -- all still football related but not attached to just one club -- and struggles to find a window in his diary.

"My timetable's full," he said as he took time out from coaching sessions at two local schools, scouting missions for Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City and his work with youngsters at Wigan Athletic, Macclesfield Town and Stockport County.

"It's sad to say, but I haven't missed going into a football club every day and I'd actually have to think twice about going back into football on a full-time basis."

Crombie, who put roots down in Bolton after joining Wanderers on a free transfer from Grimsby Town in 1987, was prompted to make his career adjustment in the summer when he left the Reebok.

Having spent all but two of the last 17 years as player, coach, chief scout and Academy recruitment officer with Wanderers, he was told in May that his contract would not be renewed.

"I was disapppointed but mainly disgusted at the way it was done," he said. "It came right out of the blue -- a bombshell. After 15 years working for the club I was told at a five-minute meeting that I wasn't wanted any more.

"My commitment to the job was questioned -- not by Sam Allardyce but by the people at the Academy -- and that was completely without foundation because I thought the job was going well."

Crombie, who was awarded a testimonial seven years ago for his services to Wanderers, has put the disappointment behind him and moved on, returning to grass roots football with his coaching sessions at Bolton School, where former Wanderers' keeper Keith Branagan is the football coach, and Thornleigh College.

He has also kept his connections with the professionals, coaching at Wigan's centre of excellence and giving the benefit of his experience at Stockport and Macclesfield, where he tutors youngsters on a BTech sports qualification.

"Thanks to a lot of friends in the game, the work I'm doing now makes an interesting change from what I've been used to," he added.

"I'm enjoying it so much that I don't think I could go back to what I was doing before.'