HE'S USED to being on the other side of the boardroom table but what if Bill Cullen's Apprenticesidekick Brian Purcell were to be told "You're fired!"?

"I'd do more showjumping or anything to do with rural pursuits really," the jovial Kerry-born marine biologist-turned-PR man revealed in an interview in the latest edition of Business Post, published by An Post.

“I’m very much the rural man. But I love the greyhounds too. I buy one greyhound every year with my dad. I’d love to win the Derby one day.”

In spite of an “initial lack of self-belief” Purcell admits he “blagged” his way through an interview to get into PR. “I handled a few problems for Ita Gibney,” he said.

Purcell’s “passion” for showjumping is such that he’d like to “wear the green jacket and compete for Ireland” if his current career doesn’t pan out.

Given that he’s unlikely to unseat Jessica Kürten or Sir Anthony O’Reilly’s godson Cian O’Connor, what next for Purcell?

“I intend to drive our business [Insight Consultants] to be the best provider of communications services in Ireland and then beyond,” Purcell says.

In the meantime, it’s a case of “make haste slowly”.

“I have so much I want to achieve but all in its own good time,” says Purcell.

Sound advice, and his exposure on TV3 will no doubt open doors for him. But it probably wouldn't carry you too far in The Apprentice.