It has been pointed out that he may or may not have had an opportunity to take the reigns after John Lyall left the club - but he insists that was never a serious option.
He does not see that as a problem in terms of the short term task ahead, though, and he smiles:
"If I had thought about managing seriously I would have been in it a lot earlier than now!"
Naturally, though, he did not anticipate the sad circumstances which now see him in charge for the final games of the season.
Caretaker-managers, for a club that has only had nine permanent managers in a 103 year history, have been few and far between at Upton Park.
Glenn Roeder was the last, taking over for, ironically, one game at Middlesbrough when Harry Redknapp departed.
Sadly, of course, Glenn was taken seriously ill following Monday's game against the same team - necessitating the temporary appointment of Trevor for the final three games of the season.
"If you had said this time last week I would be sitting here talking to you now about this you couldn't even have dreamt about it," says Trevor.
"It is an unbelievable situation that has developed and affects a huge number of people within the club - the staff, the fans, and everyone - and I am just trying to make a contribution," he adds modestly.
"But there are lots of people around and there are some good senior lads; everyone knows what is required, and I am really just a small cog in the overall picture.
"It is true that I haven't managed in football - but there are different experiences I feel I can contribute and, as I say, there are a lot of good senior players, and Roger and Paul, that are there."
West Ham has always been something of a breeding ground for managers over the years, producing more than its fair share of them in modern times.
But the club have always valued players who were intelligent on the pitch as well - and could make a positive contribution off it.
"Ron Greenwood used to manage very much in the way where they would involve senior players," says Trevor, "and I honestly feel there is such a will within the dressing room and a spirit within the lads that it won't be a problem, because we are all pulling in the right direction."
Trevor says the players must try to get out of trouble not just because of Glenn, but for the club as a whole.
"I think it is unfair to make that sort of pressure, shall we say," he explains, "but we must do it because of the situation we find ourselves in.
"There is no question that Glenn has worked tirelessly and has got us to the stage where we have got three games to go - and we have got a chance.
"We believe, and he believed, that if we win three games we can stay up and of course we want to do it for a whole variety of reasons.
"With how it has developed this week there won't be a need to motivate too much because everyone is of a mind to try and give it their best possible effort - and that is all we can ask for."