Hull City boss Steve Bruce gave serious consideration to quitting management at the end of the season, but instead shook hands on a new three-year deal at the KC Stadium.
Bruce's current deal expires at the end of the 2014-15 campaign and, at the age of 54, he freely admits there was a brief temptation to "sail off into the sunset".
But while he has achieved plenty with the Tigers already, winning promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt, staying up against the odds last season and reaching the club's first ever FA Cup final, he is now set on future-proofing its modest infrastructure.
That includes upgrading the Academy from its lowly Category 3 status and modernising the training ground -- and Bruce is up for the challenge.
"There was a bit of me that thought 'Steve, you've had a wonderful three years. Do you keep the club up and say thanks very much?," he said.
"But then I thought 'I haven't finished yet'. I have put something in place with the Academy, the scouting and the training ground. I want to see it through to fruition.
"I want to see if I can get it where I think it can be. If I can do that, play my part, then I will sail off into the sunset."
Bruce's wife Janet had also wondered if Bruce might be ready to indulge some of his other sporting passions as a globe-trotting spectator, but in the end the football bug got the better of him.
"I spoke to my wife and she asked if I needed a break," he said.
"I've always said I wanted to go the Cricket World Cup, have a week at Cheltenham or go to the US Masters.
"But at the end of the day this is what I do.
"It becomes difficult but the day you stop enjoying it is the day when you say, 'That's it'. And I think I'll know that.
"But I won't go on as long as Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson)!"
For the remainder of his time in at Hull, Bruce has set himself one extra pet project: to unearth a young local talent good enough to play in the Barclays Premier League.
Whether down to the pre-eminent status of rugby league or Hull's history of sub-par development facilities, that search for a star has drawn a blank for many years.
Dean Windass and Nick Barmby are the only homegrown talents to have played a significant role during Hull's Premier League years, but both were in the twilight of their careers having made their names elsewhere.
"I would love to see a young one come through," said Bruce.
"When was the last time a young one came through? I know there have been players in the past who have been in the lower divisions but not a Premier League player.
"There must be something out here. We have made a few strides for that and I hope it comes along."