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JOHN Worsfold has ruled out an immediate return to coaching and will tell Carlton to look elsewhere in its search to replace Mick Malthouse.

Worsfold, who coached West Coast to a premiership in 2006, had been linked to the Carlton position in the build-up to Tuesday's dramatic sacking of Malthouse and was installed as an early favourite by some betting agencies.

However, the 46-year-old was quick to rule himself out of the running when speaking to Perth's Channel Seven on Tuesday night.

"I will be telling Carlton they should look to progress with looking for a coach without adding me to the list," he said.

Worsfold, who is the chairman of the AFL Coaches Association, wrote to the League's 18 senior coaches earlier this week to clarify his position on returning to senior ranks.  

He said he had not ruled out taking on a senior job in the future and would step down as AFLCA chairman if he put his hand up for a vacant position.

"I am not seeking a senior coaching position and I don't know if I ever will be in a position to consider taking on this breathtaking and challenging role at any stage in the future," Worsfold said in the letter.

Carlton will appoint an independent committee to search for Malthouse's replacement, with John Barker installed as the interim senior coach. 

Worsfold worked as an assistant at Carlton before joining the Eagles in 2002 and coaching 281 games, including the 2005 and 2006 Grand Finals.

He was named the AFLCA coach of the year in 2006 and 2011 and finished with a winning rate of 53.85 per cent.