New Interim Exeter City boss Dan Green says he is fully focused on taking charge of his first match as a manager – after being asked if he is interested in taking the vacant Grecians job on a permanent basis.
Green takes the hot seat at St James Park for Exeter’s home game against Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday after head coach Gary Caldwell left the club to join Wigan Athletic.
Green spent four years as an assistant coach at Exeter until 2022 before joining Aston Villa and later Rotherham.
After rejoining Exeter for a second spell under Caldwell in the summer of 2024, Green has now been thrown under the spotlight at short notice, but remained coy about his long-term personal ambitions at the club.
“If I could tell you how busy my last couple of days have been, it’s not even crossed my mind at the moment because I feel like I need to give everything to the players and to the staff,” Green told BBC Radio Devon.
“All of our focus needs to go on to Wycombe. Once Wycombe is done, maybe I can think about what’s next.
“My aim, my desire, is that whatever I do, I do to the best of my ability.
“What I experienced at Aston Villa and Rotherham, the aim was to become a better coach – a more all-rounded person.
“I feel like when I came back to the club, I had achieved that through those experiences, so my aspirations have always been about trying to maximise the person and the professional that I am.
“The main aim for the past couple of days is keeping as much normality as possible for the players, trying to prepare them as best as we possibly can for a big challenge that’s coming on Tuesday night.”
And Green had time to thank the man who was a big factor in his return to Devon.
“Myself and Gary met in a coffee shop in Wilmslow near where he lives and we just spoke football. We spoke about how he sees the game,” Green added.
“He created a fantastic playing style, he evolved the team, his recruitment was fantastic and he really utilised his contacts in terms of bringing players into the club.
“The way that he sustained League One football over this period of time has been second to none.
“He was a fantastic person to work with, someone who gave great opportunities, and personally I feel very grateful for the time I spent working with him.”
