Will Exeter take a step back in League One next season?
Exeter City have performed above expectations in their first campaign in League One since 2012. Even after losing manager Matt Taylor during the season, Gary Caldwell’s men survived relegation comfortably with several games to spare, which is just as well after they ran into a gauntlet of top sides at the end of the campaign. The club can now look to next season to build on their consolidation, but the odds will be stacked against them in their bid to remain in the third tier. There are offers available to back Exeter and avoid the drop, or even for ambitious fans to back their side to make a charge for promotion towards the Championship. However, Caldwell and his team are going to have to make savvy moves in the transfer market and shore up the key elements of their side.
Exodus?
The Grecians secured sensible loan moves for Rekeem Harper and Jay Stansfield from Ipswich Town and Fulham respectively. Harper has been solid in the middle of the park in his 20 appearances, while Stansfield has been a revelation. Stansfield’s dad, Adam, played 132 times for Exeter before his career and life were cut short by cancer. Stansfield returned to the club where his dad played and excelled for Caldwell’s men, scoring six goals in 32 appearances. Unfortunately for Exeter, Stansfield has arguably played too well to continue his career in League One and will certainly catch the eye of Championship clubs. The 20-year-old is not ready for the Premier League yet, but the standard of his performances will certainly not make him available for a return to St James’ Park.
The Grecians may also be victims of their own success developing young players. Archie Collins, Josh Key, Sam Nombe and Alex Hartridge have all taken the step up from the fourth tier into the third and have not missed a beat. Key more than most has been the centre of speculation, and his contract expires in the summer. Swansea City and Sunderland have been tracking the 24-year-old’s progress and he seems certain to make the move to the Championship. Collins is also out of contract and could attract attention from sides in the upper echelons of League One. It would be a bitter blow for the Grecians to lose both academy prospects after years of development. However, it does speak volumes to the production line of talent that was harboured under Taylor and has continued under Caldwell.
Cause for Concern
Exeter will have been delighted with their form over the course of the season. They continually punched above their weight, which was a massive achievement after losing Taylor, who guided them into the third tier. Caldwell steadied the ship and ensured that his side were never at risk of relegation, unlike Forest Green Rovers, who took the immediate plunge back into the fourth tier in almost identical circumstances after losing their manager Rob Edwards. Exeter played truly exciting games and were never afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best sides in the division. At times it has worked to great effect, such as the dramatic 3-2 win over Peterborough United, and there are times where defensive naivety has worked against the Grecians, as when they suffered a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Ipswich.
The fixture list was not kind to Caldwell’s men at the end of the campaign, as they faced six out of the top seven sides in the division and lost all six of their games. If Exeter had something to play for it would have been interesting to see if results could have been different. But, there are potential causes for concern. Exeter have been battling to remain in the division and when you have a goal in mind, motivation is never lacking. However, next season, the Grecians could be targeting mid-table at best which could result in a slide in standards, especially if key players leave. It will be up to Caldwell to make sure his team remain focused on the task at hand and can keep their spirit alive for next term, which has been so effective for this one.
