A look ahead to next season's opponents continues with Exeter City
A look at next season's opponents continues with Exeter City
Who are ya?
The Grecians finished in 10th place last season
Who’s in charge?
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale is the longest-serving manager in the Football League, having been in charge at St James Park since June 2006. As a player Tisdale’s first club was Southampton, for whom he made his debut in 1991. In a nomadic career Tisdale spent time in Finland, Scotland – with Dundee United – and Greece as well as spells with Bristol City, Exeter and Yeovil. His initial foray into management was with Team Bath, whom he led to four promotions and a place in the first round of the FA Cup in 2002. He led Exeter back into the Football League in 2008 and the following season took them into League One, thus becoming the first Exeter manager to win back-to-back promotions. He has been in charge of the club for 460 games and last season the 42-year-old re-registered himself as a player and was an unused substitute against Portsmouth.
Last season
Exeter failed to win any of their first eight games in all competitions before embarking on a run of six victories in nine starts. It set the tone for an inconsistent campaign. They failed to win a game in January and February before enjoying five wins and two draws in their next seven matches.
In the FA Cup they lost 1-0 in the first round to non-league Warrington Town and suffered early exits in the Capital One Cup to AFC Bournemouth and Coventry in the JP Trophy.
Summer plans
City have made three summer signings already with winger Lee Holmes, midfielder Manny Oyeleke and goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik all joining the club but Tisdale is also looking to strengthen his defensive options. Jordan Moore-Taylor has suffered a broken foot while Scott Bennett has moved to Notts County and Pat Baldwin linked up with Salisbury City. Another defender, Christian Ribeiro, is considering whether to accept a new contract offer from the club.
Exeter will kick off pre-season with two games in Scotland against East Fife on July 7 and Arbroath two days later.
Previous meetings
Although Reds have never met Exeter in the Football League the sides have met in the Conference and three times in the FA Cup. Back in 1971 the teams drew 0-0 at Town Mead before Exeter won the replay 2-0. Then in the first round in 1994 the home side won 1-0 at St James Park in what turned out to be Ted Shepherd’s last game as manager. Current Reds’ assistant boss Jimmy Dack played in that match.
