Exeter City interim manager Dan Green insists he will be demanding of his squad as he prepares to take charge of the team for the first time tonight.
The Grecians waved goodbye to long-term manager Gary Caldwell yesterday when he opted to rejoin League One rivals Wigan Athletic. The 43-year-old ended his playing days at the Latics in a spell which also saw him collect a FA Cup winners medal in 2013.
The club also provided the former Scotland international his first opportunity in senior management, where he guided the club back to the Championship in 2016. However, he was dismissed in October of the same year.
Caldwell Stabilises Exeter
Caldwell joined Exeter in 2022 after taking on various roles at Chesterfield, Partick Thistle, Manchester City and Hibernian. He has since stabilised the Devon-based outfit in England’s third tier, despite comfortably possessing one of the division’s smallest playing budgets.
Although they are arguably not pretty to watch, the ex-centre-back has consistently managed to achieve mid-table finishes and leaves the club in a similar position. A poor start to this season burst into life just before the turn of the year and they head into tonight’s clash with Wycombe Wanderers on a run of just one league defeat from nine outings.
Exeter City FC can confirm that Gary Caldwell has left his role as first-team manager to take up the position of manager at Wigan Athletic.
Following negotiations over the last few days, City and Wigan Athletic have reached an agreement on a suitable compensation sum.
We thank… pic.twitter.com/bBfM9maaMW
— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) February 16, 2026
Green Ready To Usher In New Era
PDP coach Dan Green has been handed first team affairs whilst the search for Caldwell’s successor takes place. It marks a remarkable rise for the 34-year-old, who rejoined the club in 2024 having initially left in 2022.
Preparing for his first fixture, Green admitted that his personality differs from the outgoing manager, and his expectations on the group will be high. Speaking to Devon Live, he said:
“I think my personality is different to Gary, so I have to be authentic and true to myself. I think the players have known me for a long time, so nothing really changes in terms of my personality. I’m going be demanding of them. I have high expectations for this group. I have a strong belief in what they’re capable of.
“I also know that they have to have to have a foundation of strong behaviours and strong work ethic, and that will be, first and foremost, what I can demand of them, because that’s within their control.
“I think the important thing when you’re on the sideline is being what the players need. If the performance is flat or the players need energy or the players need information, that’s exactly what myself and the staff will look to give them.”
Exeter could move into the top half of the table tonight with a win before they prepare to travel to Peterborough United on Saturday.