MARK Harvey has ruled himself out of the Brisbane Lions coaching race, saying he is never likely to take a senior position again.

Harvey will fill in as the Lions' interim coach over the final three rounds of the season as Michael Voss's replacement at the Gabba.

But the former Fremantle mentor said he was happy being a senior assistant and saw his future heading that way.

Harvey said he had sympathy for Voss, whose sudden axing on Tuesday afternoon was similar to his at Fremantle in 2011 when Ross Lyon was unexpectedly ushered in.

He believed Voss would coach again once the dust had settled, but it wasn't something he was interested in.

"I've been a senior assistant coach and I've really grown in that job. That's where I see myself in football now," Harvey said.

"I've just made a decision that this is where I see my area of the game."

He said Voss had done a terrific job in developing the list, and the next coach would be inheriting a team ready to jump to the next level.

"He was the one on the phone to me, along with (football manager) Dean Warren, to give me an opportunity beyond my previous coaching. I come over here to help him. It's unfortunate that it's happened," Harvey said.

"You always like to think you can coach a team when you've just about got it on the verge of doing something special and Vossy would fall into that category.

"We've got a good young list and a big bright future. There's not many reasons why you wouldn't want to have this job."

Harvey and the rest of the coaching staff have spent time with Voss since his sacking.

He said the effect on the players would only be known once they ran out against Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Twitter: AFL_mikewhiting