Colm O'Rourke admits it felt like a case of now or never after being ratified as the new Meath boss.
The Royals legend has previously thrown his name in the hat for the Meath hot seat without any luck.
And while the 64-year-old initially ruled himself out of the running following Andy McEntee's departure this summer, O'Rourke couldn't turn down the opportunity when the county board finally came calling.
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O'Rourke said: "There is a bit of ageism in the country and, I think, in GAA circles. People think that when you get to my age that you have run your course.
"But in America, for example, the coaches in basketball, football and hockey, and things like that, tend to be older people. But not so much in this country."
He added: "I've had an interest [in the Meath job] because if you have a passion for football and you've been involved in management at all the levels that I've been involved in - at school, at club and at international rules - it would sort of be an extension of that.
"It wasn't something that ever kept me awake at night, I suppose. But there comes a time in life to do things, and this seemed to be the right time."
O'Rourke didn't comment on rumours linking former Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice and former Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan coach Donie Buckley with places on his coaching ticket.
But stating his mantra that the "manager is the person who needs to know least but trust most", the Simonstown Gaels man said he and his selectors, Barry Callaghan and Stephen Bray, will be casting their net far and wide for the best players.
He told LMFM: "I'm lucky to have people like Barry Callaghan and Stephen Bray who have been great ambassadors for Meath football in the past and are very current in terms of their involvement.
"We intend to do a trawl when the championships are over. There is a mooted to be a junior and intermediate competition that will run in the period over November, which will be a great opportunity to look at players.
"I would like everyone to think that no matter what club they are from they are going to get a good chance to be looked at - not once or twice but maybe on several occasions.
"We will be looking after well over 100 players before we come to a panel."
After stating his ambition this week to end Dublin's stranglehold on the Leinster Championship, O'Rourke admitted that he had already given his critics a stick to beat him with.
But he has reiterated his belief that the Dubs are the benchmark for Meath.
"It's not about waiting for him to come down to our level, it's about us raising our levels. If you are not able to beat Dublin then you are going nowhere."
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