West Coast great John Worsfold has left the door open for a coaching return, but Carlton fans shouldn’t hold their breath just yet.

Worsfold, who enjoyed a successful 12-year stint as Eagles coach before stepping down in 2013, remains hot property on the coaching market.

Blues coach Mick Malthouse is unlikely to be re-signed beyond this year, especially with his side struggling in last spot after posting just one win from the first seven rounds.

Former Carlton president John Elliott says the Blues should consider snaring Worsfold if they decided to part ways with Malthouse.

Worsfold, who worked as an assistant coach at Carlton from 2000-01 before guiding West Coast to the 2006 premiership, has spent the past two years doing work in the media.

And although he hasn’t put any plans in place to return to coaching, he would be open to receiving any offers.

“If the opportunity was right and I felt ready to go back into that lifestyle then I’d still be keen to do that,” Worsfold told Seven News.

“I’ll know if the time is right. I don’t know if that time will ever come, but I’ve got no doubt it will be obvious to me if I’m ready to coach again.

“I’m not sitting here sweating on what’s happening at clubs in terms of coaching personnel and what decisions clubs are making. That’s the least of my worries at the moment.”

Carlton’s form over the past three weeks has been horrible, and their crowd figures have dropped off significantly in response.

Blues president Mark LoGiudice is adamant the club wants Malthouse to see out the season.

But with tough games against Geelong, Sydney, Adelaide, and Port Adelaide to come over the next four weeks, the pressure will continue to grow on Malthouse unless he can inspire some upsets.