Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell has admitted that The Grecians won’t have to offload a whole host of players to balance the books this summer despite significant interest, in comments given to Devon Live.
Although there might well be interest in individuals such as Sam Nombe and Josh Key at the Grecians, Exeter are adamant that it won’t be a summer of wholesale changes regardless.
The news comes after a fantastic campaign on the pitch for Gary Caldwell’s men, finishing 14th in League One after automatic promotion the season before up to the third tier.
Everyone involved at St James Park will hope Gary Caldwell’s words are listened to and become a reality, with a feel good factor coursing around the Devonshire based club at this present moment in time.
By holding onto figures such as Nombe for next season, they could well push for an even better finish and dream of positions higher up the division than their mid-table position this campaign.
Although, if a significant bid does come the Grecians’ way, they might well be powerless to letting a key figure go regardless.
Who Has Starred This Season At Exeter City?
Players such as the aforementioned Sam Nombe and Josh Key have really impressed since making the step-up to the third tier, Exeter eager for both players to remain at St James Park for the foreseeable future.
Nombe nearly doubled his attacking output this campaign compared to his goalscoring efforts in League Two, netting 15 goals over 43 appearances in contrast to his eight goals in the fourth tier. The ex MK Dons man has been a slow burner during his career to date, finding his peak at the Grecians.
Josh Key has also been another individual that has impressed for Exeter since promotion to League One, operating as a defensive option some weeks but also playing further up the field to add to the Grecians attack. Key even scored away at Hillsborough for Gary Caldwell’s men, a valiant overall display ending in a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of The Owls.
Archie Collins, Harry Kite and many others have also performed above expectation this season, suitors from higher up the EFL taking notice.
Exeter’s History As A Selling Club
Exeter fans might well be worried still, regardless of Gary Caldwell’s comments, considering Exeter City’s reputation for selling their best assets when bigger clubs come calling.
The two obvious examples that come to mind are Ethan Ampadu and Ollie Watkins, both former Grecians who went on to sign for Premier League clubs after excelling in Devon.
Ollie Watkins in particular has gone on to become an established Premier League striker for Aston Villa, even winning seven caps for England along the way.
If another Premier League titan comes calling for the current crop of talent at Exeter City, Gary Caldwell and co might well be helpless to the situation at hand.
What Has Gary Caldwell Said?
Speaking to Devon Live, Exeter’s Scottish manager insisted that his side wouldn’t have to sell their key assets unless a crazy bid came along with the players currently present at the club committed to the cause.
He said:“As a football club we always have to be prepared for bids as we have so many good players and players that have performed extremely well last season. We are not in a position as a club where we have to sell.“
But we have to look at bids for what they are and if it makes sense for the club it might be something we have to do. Right now every player that is contracted is fully committed to the club and that will only change if we feel it’s in the best interest for the club.”
Writer’s View
When you’re further down the pecking order and plying your trade in League One, it can often feel like a powerless situation for clubs when it comes to selling your key players. There almost feels like a sense of inevitability that your key players will leave for pastures new higher up the EFL.
But, Gary Caldwell’s fighting talk will give Exeter fans cause for optimism that individuals like Key and Nombe won’t leave in the summer and will commit to sticking it out in Devon.
Only time will tell, however, whether Exeter can hold onto their key players with rumoured Championship interest for the likes of Josh Key and more.
