John Collins hopes his new job in charge of Belgium's Charleroi can lead to a top Premiership position.

The former Hibs boss takes over almost a year after quitting his role at Easter Road, but the 40-year- old Scot is convinced that enhancing his reputation abroad will give him a better chance of managing a top English club one day.

"Football management is a precarious business," said Collins.

"So this gives me and Charleroi the chance to see if we like each other and if we have a future together.

"I've told the chairman, Abbas Bayat, that my family are the most important thing in the world to me. I am used to seeing them every day and that was one of the things I enjoyed after I hung up my boots, being around every day.

"Even at Hibs, I would pick them up from school - but I discovered that management makes so many demands of you, it is hard to give your family 'quality time'.

"Rather than uprooting everyone, we decided on a deal that takes me to the end of the season, with the option to look at things after that.

"Susan and the kids can come over here on Fridays and get a feel for Brussels and whether we think we would want to stay here as a family. The chairman also understood it was important, before making a long- term decision, to try the place for size."

He added: "Everyone knows now that I was interviewed by West Ham a few months ago and that gave me my enthusiasm back. However, if I am honest, I am probably not experienced enough to get a job just yet in the English Premiership. Managers have to go where the work is."