Ebbsfleet United manager Josh Wright has broken his silence on reported interest from Forest Green Rovers, insisting that his priority remains the club he has spent the past 18 months rebuilding.
Wright addressed speculation about his future after reports linked him with the vacant manager’s position at Forest Green. The Rovers are preparing to welcome Hartlepool United to The New Lawn on Saturday, with the club expected to be led by Jonathan Gould, Yan Klukowski and Josh Bowen on an interim basis.
That temporary arrangement follows Robbie Savage’s departure to Peterborough United last week. There is no confirmation in the supplied report that Forest Green has made a formal approach for Wright or that he is under consideration beyond the reported interest.
Wright says Ebbsfleet remains his priority
Speaking to KentOnline, Wright acknowledged the speculation while making clear that he wants to continue in charge at Ebbsfleet United.
“I’m absolutely Ebbsfleet manager,” said Wright. “I think it’s clear how much I love being here, how much I love this football club. It is a family.”
The 18 months since Wright took over have included an effort to rebuild the club after what he described as a difficult period. He said the current squad was one he had assembled and that he remained strongly committed to the players, supporters and club.
“I want to be Ebbsfleet manager. I want to take this club where I believe it can go.”
Wright also said his work had focused on changing the mindset and mentality around Ebbsfleet. He presented the club as being on an upward path and said he wanted to continue helping it move forward.
“I’m Ebbsfleet manager and that’s how I see it. You’ve got someone who really cares for this football club and someone who is trying to take this football club forward.”
Manager says speculation has not distracted him
Although he admitted there had been interest, Wright said the possibility of a move had not taken his attention away from preparing Ebbsfleet for matches. He described himself as focused on the immediate job of trying to win football games.
“I’m a very driven, focused boy, and I mean that. The phone’s been very busy and I’ve had to answer and do a bit of this and that.”
Wright said the situation could have distracted him, but insisted that it had not. He added that he felt a responsibility to himself and to Ebbsfleet, where he believes he is building something while continuing to learn and develop as a manager.
“I’ve only got one focus and that’s being manager of Ebbsfleet United. I’m new to it and I’m learning. I’m growing and that’s just how I see it.”
Ebbsfleet players aware of the speculation
The manager suggested that the reports had also been noticed inside the dressing room. He said some players had asked what was happening, while praising the support he had received from the club’s owners and squad.
“The owners have been great with me in terms of dealing with even this now, on the back of everything else, and so have the players,” he said.
For Forest Green supporters, the immediate next step is Saturday’s home match against Hartlepool United at The New Lawn, which is expected to be overseen by Gould, Klukowski and Bowen. The supplied report does not state when Rovers will appoint a permanent successor to Savage or whether Wright will be formally approached.
The comments leave Wright publicly committed to Ebbsfleet United as Forest Green’s managerial situation develops.