Alan Curbishley has set his sights on a job in the Premier League after more than a year away from the game.

The experienced manager parted company with West Ham in September 2008 after disagreeing with the club over transfer policy.

He won his claim for wrongful dismissal earlier this month and is now set to receive compensation from the Hammers.

Speaking about the decision to take action against his former club, Curbishley told the Sunday Mirror: "It's been a difficult time for me.

"It was something that I decided I had to do. When I left Charlton it was planned and so my break was enjoyable. This wasn't.

"When I left West Ham they were fifth and it wasn't as if I was expecting it.

"I'd just come off the pitch and we'd beaten Blackburn. And I had Craig Bellamy and Dean Ashton fit.

"During my time out I haven't been to many games, only a couple of Premier League ones.

"I had a three-week court case and preparing for that sort of thing is not easy. It's very time-consuming. But you don't need to be at matches to know what's going on.

"The Premier League is there for everybody to see."

Curbishley is now keen to return to work as quickly as possible and would like a position with a club in the top half of the Premier League.

"For my last 10 years, I have been in the Premier League," he explained.

"I want to be at a top-10 club - the Premier League is where it's at.

"I think I took things for granted though, and I've had to re-evaluate the way I work. There are one or two things I'll attack differently if or when I come back.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but there are things I'd have done differently.

"One thing I've noticed is that everything is short term now. When I got relegated with Charlton I got a three-year contract. That was before the new season started.

"So I've got to take that into account. But when I come back depends on luck. It's been a long 14 months."