Exeter City’s new under-23 coach Dan Green says he is keen to continue the good work already done at the club and help to bring through more promising young players from the youth sides into the first team.
After Matt Taylor departed the role to take charge as manager, Dan has since stepped up from being under-18s coach to the under-23s side and will look to have a successful season in the under-23 Premier League Cup, a competition that saw City progress to the knockout stages of last year, beating the likes of Hull City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland’s under-23 sides along the way.
Following his appointment, Dan said: “I will be continuing some of the work that is still in place, there has been some outstanding work done at the club in recent years so my job is to help all the players and if I can do that in anyway then I will.
“I’m really excited, there is a good feel about the club with Matt coming in as manager. I know the players here already, so I know their potential and I’m looking forward to helping them reach that.”
On the under-23 Premier League Cup, which City will have to qualify for, Dan says the players will benefit from having the experience of qualification.
He continued: “We have to qualify the same as last year which is going to be tough but that’s the type of experiences they need to get them ready. It was a great campaign last year from Matt and all the players, so we will be looking to do the same.”
Dan also feels that the fact he already knows the players well will help him settle into his role as he looks to ensure the club continue to bring through young talent and give them first team opportunities.
“I hope it will help them.” Dan said: “I think it’s important to know someone’s strengths and weaknesses. I’m looking forward to working with them, we’ve got some excellent professional players at the club that will help the younger players.”
Dan also revealed that he is looking forward to being involved in the first team set-up, a role that Matt Taylor carried out under the previous management.
He continued: “It’s a good opportunity. It’s what the club does, to give opportunities to people, and I can’t speak highly enough from my experience of working with the players and what they’ve done in the past two years. As close as they got to League One, it was still a good achievement, they worked hard and are a good group so I’m really looking forward to working with them.
“Ultimately the players are professionals and it’s hard to get those games out of your system. I am sure they will have and when they come back for the first day we will be looking forwards rather than backwards.”