Like the Newcastle skipper, the 33-year-old Geordie wants to further his coaching career. But his long-term-plans go much further.
Clark: "I've said all along that no matter what happens next season, it will be my last as a player anyway. We will get this season done and dusted - hopefully I can stay in the team - and then see what comes next season.
"But if I do carry on playing, it will definitely be my last next season because I've got other goals in my career. I'll be just approaching my 35th birthday and I'll be looking to change direction in my career then. I'm in the process of qualifying for my UEFA A licence - I've already got my B - so that's the next goal for me, the next step, the next challenge.
"That's something I want to do, and who knows, one day 10 or 15 years down the line, I could be coming back. You have got to set yourself targets and that would be the one if I went into that side of the game.
"In 15 years or however long it takes, that would be the eventual goal I would set myself. They say the best thing is playing, but the next best thing is to be the manager. The long-term goal eventually has to be to come back and be the manager here one day."