Taylor aims to eradicate Exeter's 'soft' tag

Interim Exeter City boss Matt Taylor has said it is his aim to eradicate the "soft" tag his players have been labelled with following a run of 10 matches without a win.

The 44-year-old has taken charge of three games back at St James Park after being appointed as the Grecians' head coach until the end of the season.

City are now just four points above the League One drop zone with 10 matches remaining - starting with a home clash against promotion-chasing Cardiff City on Saturday.

And in order to avoid sleepwalking into a relegation dog fight, Taylor says it is important for his players to remain focused fully for 90 minutes.

"In the footballing world, people see the players as a little bit of a soft touch," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.

"But I've been here for 10 days now - I'd like to think we're not.

"Then you concede set-piece goals, and there can't be moments in the game in which they've showed a bit of softness.

"The core of the team has been hit by injuries - an old-school mentality or physicality is missing out of the team. I don't like my team being called soft. I don't think it's fully justified.

"The worst thing is if our fans think we're a little bit soft. As a manager, I've got to get the players to value every single moment - Saturday's a good opportunity for us to do that."

Taylor has met twice with the club's hierarchy in his first week and a half back at the club as caretaker boss.

Former head coach Gary Caldwell - who left to take over at Wigan Athletic last month - played a large role in the club's decision-making from top to bottom.

Since returning, Taylor says City - who have suffered financial issues in recent years - are now forming a clearer structure for the future operations of the club.

He said: "For whatever reason, things have happened for a period of time where no one has really had a handle on the control of the club.

"It sounds so strange to say, but for the two [board] meetings I've had, I've come out thinking they're the right people involved.

"Everyone's positive and there's a clear plan in place and I think that plan has a bit more of an identity as a football club.

"It's not just the footballing side that has got a little bit out of control, the whole club in general [has]. I don't think it has been quite managed the way it needed to be. An intervention, of some sort, is needed.

"But I've come out of these two meetings with a positive mindset. I've seen from afar what the club's been going through in recent times but I'm much more comfortable that the club is going to be sustainable and competitive."