SHEFFIELD Wednesday interim boss Matt Hamshaw says he would love to stay on at the club when the Owls hierarchy decide upon the next man to replace Henirk Pedersen.
Hamshaw's first game in temporary charge ended in a 1-1 League One draw against Cambridge United at Hillsborough.
The Olws return to action at home to Blackpool on Sunday with the club continuing to assess candidates for the vacant role.
Former Stockport County chief Dave Challinor remains the favourite for the post.
Asked if he would like to be part of the club's future going forward, the former Rotherham United chief said: "Look, the good times are definitely going to come back.
"I'd like to think that I offer quite a bit of understanding and knowledge about League One football.
"So, look, I want to be part of whatever it is that comes in.
"But I'm not naive enough to think that it might not be the case. But if it is, and I stay, fantastic. And if it isn't, that's football.
"You move on. I wish the club nothing but the best. But, like I've just said, it isn't about me at this moment in time.
"I'm in charge until a new manager is appointed and, look, it's a huge honour for me to do it and step up.
"The powers that be will make those decisions. But as we stand at this moment in time, I just keep trying to do the job, keep putting a team out there that can be competitive."
Paying tribute to Pedersen, Hamshaw, who came back to the club - where he enjoyed a playing stint in his career - as first-team coach in August, added: "Look, I think it would really be amiss of me not to mention Henrik in this.
"Henrik's a fantastic guy. It's never nice.
"I've been in that position myself where you lose a job. I know how much this city meant to him. I know how much this club meant to him.
"I know how much it meant to his family. He's obviously got your two young boys who have massive Wednesdayites. Look, it's never nice to see somebody who cares that much about the football club leave.
"He had a real difficult job last year and I think he stood by the club through thick and thin. So, huge credit to him. It sounds really cold, but this club moves on and we have to move on and whoever's next has got a real good squad of players and they've got something to build on.
"We need, obviously, his players back. But I think most Wednesday fans will look at Henrik fondly and not remember what kind of has happened in these last couple of (previous) games."
Hamshaw admitted that his overwhelming feeling was one of frustration after seeing the Owls fail to hold onto the lead given to them early in the second half by Mason Burstow, who scored with a cracking 50th-minute effort.
U's substitute Sulley Kaikai levelled midway through the second period following a mistake by Billy Mitchell.
Hamshaw added: "Frustrating, I think, is the key word. I felt in the first 10-15 minutes weren't good enough. I thought we were too lethargic, really. "That wasn't the message to the players when we went out there.
"And then I thought half an hour after that, we looked like we were a good team again. I think, obviously, last week might have knocked the players a little bit and they've been through a lot these last 48 hours, as we all have.
"But then I thought we looked like the team that we can be coming out of that second half. Football's about moments. I think if Mason's opportunity goes in (for 2-0), the keeper makes a great save.
It's a different game. I'm disappointed with their goal. I thought we should have handled it better at the edge of the box.
"Billy should have done better in front of me here. And then we concede, and then we show a good reaction. And at the end, they're throwing balls in the box, and the lads are putting their bodies on the line."