It was one of the most surprising career moves of the year.

When Colin Todd got the push from the City hot-seat in February, he insisted he had at least one more management job in him.

But not many would have seen that coming in the Superliga in Denmark.

Fast forward five months, though, and he was starting his new role as the coach of Randers FC.

Todd had built up his Scandinavian connections through the number of Danish players he took to Bolton. It was one of those former Reebok charges, Per Frandsen, who set up the Randers interview.

Halfway through his first season working abroad, Todd is clearly enjoying his change of tack.

"It's a fresh challenge for me and it's going quite well," he said. "Randers are only a very small club but they are ambitious and progressive.

"It's a very young club compared with some of the others but we're making a go of it. We are never going to compete on an equal footing with someone like FC Copenhagen, who will always be miles bigger, but we are getting there.

"The standard of the league as a whole is very good and probably compares to the Championship. Teams from Denmark have acquitted themselves well in Europe.

"I can see real potential here, although it will probably take us another three years to really compete. At the moment we are mid-table which is probably our proper position."

Todd is currently in the mid-season break which brings most of European club football to a halt around this time of year. Having disappointingly slipped up 2-0 at home to strugglers Viborg on December 1, Randers must now kick their heels until March 16 when the league restarts with a trip to Brondby.

No wonder the Danish campaign, which began on July 18, does not finish until May 24 - a couple of weeks after England.

Todd, who is assisted by former Bolton midfielder Stig Tofting, is waiting for the transfer window to open next month so he can beef up a squad which he admits lacks sufficient quality.

"I'd like to bring in a few from England and look at the loan situation but clubs are not too keen on that.

"At the moment we've got a good team of a maximum 14 players but after that the other ones aren't really up to standard. If we can bring in three or four more to help our better players then it will improve us all round.

"We don't have the money for big transfer fees but we can certainly pay out on wages."

Todd would love one last crack at English football but admits that his time may have passed. Brian Little recently took up the reins at Wrexham but senior managers are generally being overlooked now for younger alternatives.

Todd, though, was amused to see his name thrown into the pot for the Port Vale job a couple of months ago prior to Lee Sinnott's promotion from Farsley Celtic.

"It's funny because when I was in England I didn't get linked anywhere. Now I'm not in the country and suddenly my name came up!

"But I've no idea where that came from and it was nothing to do with me. I'd like to work again in England but it's not something I'm thinking about because I am enjoying working in Denmark.

"Football is football wherever you are. You have your principles and beliefs and they don't change - you are still working with players and trying to instil the same things."