MARK Neeld will head to the US to study as he looks to resume his career in the AFL industry, but has ruled out returning to a senior coaching position.

The former Melbourne coach will study executive business courses at New York University to ensure he has the relevant skills to return to an assistant's role.

"I loved my time as an assistant coach. It's a really good job and the attachment and relationships you can have with the players and every other member of the football club (is fantastic)," Neeld told radio station K-ROCK at the weekend.

"And that's certainly something I'm looking forward to getting back into."

However, he said he had not yet received a formal approach from any club.

Neeld was sacked by Melbourne in June after managing just five wins from 33 games in his 18 months in the top job.

His decision to move on a number of players was heavily debated, but Neeld insisted they were made with the full backing of the club.

"When you make decisions like that, there's a long-term objective. And if there is that long-term objective and it's really, really clear you don't change," Neeld said.

"The fact of the matter was that it was decided by the entire football club that it was time for change and that things needed to be done from a base level.

"The whole place was going to change and every decision that was made was based on that medium to long-term (vision)."

Neeld said his sole focus was to move forward in the next phase of his life.

"You really have one of two choices - you can sit and wallow in it and the world will pass you by, or you can get up and go forward 1000 miles an hour and come up with a plan, because that's the way the industry works."

"The AFL industry goes forward 1000 miles an hour, and when you're in the moment it can be very, very unforgiving, but it can very quickly turn to be very forgiving and 'right, let's now move on.'"

Ben Guthrie is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_BenGuthrie