Nick Barmby says he is proud and honoured after being appointed Caretaker Manager of Hull City.
Taking charge of his hometown club, initially on a temporary basis, Barmby is ready to meet his new challenge head-on and is now busy preparing for his first test - Saturday's trip to Derby County.
"I'm very proud and I was honoured when I was asked (to take on the job)," said Barmby in an exclusive interview with TIGERS Player.
"Football is strange at times. We were going along quite nicely but now we have had a change of management. We just need to stabilise the club and for the owners of the club and Adam Pearson to ask me to do that, it was a very proud moment for me and my family.
"I'd do anything for this club and we're in a bit of a position at the minute, so myself and Stuart Watkiss have taken over first team duties and it's our job to prepare the lads right for the game on Saturday.
"When a manager goes, clubs often change a lot of the back-room staff and the new manager wants to bring in his own people. But it was important that the continuity stayed at this club and that is what we've managed to do.
"There isn't a lot that's broken at the moment, even though we've lost our last two games. We've played very well in those two games and been unfortunate, but the form has been very good.
"You'd be a fool to come in and change things radically because, like I said, there isn't a lot wrong.
"We know what we want to do and the main thing is that we focus on the way we have been playing - not letting too many goals in and scoring a few more at the other end."
Barmby's passion and commitment to Hull City has been a driving factor since he first arrived at the KC Stadium in 2004 and he now wants to oversee a team, staff and club that is very much in his own image.
"People don't always see what happens inside the club, but we have people around us who don't just see it as a job - they care tremendously and they want to come in and work hard for the club. That includes everybody - the kitman, the people at the training ground, the people working in the offices at the KC - they have an affinity for the club and that is very, very important.
"All we want as a group and as a club is for the fans who come along to watch us to know that the players will always give blood and sweat for the shirt - win, lose or draw - and that they are proud to play for Hull City.
"We want to entertain, there's no doubt about that, but we want to do it in the right way. Even with the losses we've had, we've played some really good stuff this season. We showed that in our last game against possibly the best squad in the league. They had to change their system to beat us, and although we lost the game we learned plenty from that result."
A calf injury has meant that Barmby hasn't featured on the pitch since scoring the winner against Cardiff at the start of October. So, with his new managerial role, will we be seeing the former England international influencing proceedings on the field as well as off it?
"I'll be picking myself from the start and I won't be coming off!" smiled Barmby.
"But on a serious note, for the foreseeable future we'll be concentrating on the most important thing and that is the club. So myself and the coaching staff will be concentrating on picking the team and getting the results we need."
