According to Devon Live’s Daniel Clark, Exeter City boss Gary Caldwell is hoping for contract decisions from four key men as he prepares for another League One campaign in Devon.
Josh Key, Archie Collins, Kevin McDonald and Jonathan Grounds have all been offered new terms at St James Park, but as yet none have put pen to paper.
Although Caldwell hasn’t set a definite deadline for the quartet to commit their futures, the manager hopes his players will respond when he returns next week from a family holiday in Turkey.
The Grecians are keen to tie all four to new deals as quickly as possible, with experienced Grounds having been offered a player-coach role.
Key has made 148 appearances since his City debut in 2018 and the 22-year-old has impressed enough to have been linked with a move to Championship side Swansea City.
Collins, like Key, came through the Exeter academy and has notched 220 games for Exeter scoring 14 goals.
Experienced McDonald joined Exeter from Dundee back in January, making 11 appearances before his season was cut short by injury.
Grounds made 22 appearances last season and is said to be been to move into coaching as his career nears the end.
In addition to resolving the situation with his out of contract players, Caldwell is also looking to bolster his squad with several new faces ahead of the August kick-off. City have been recently linked with Bolton Wanderers midfielder Josh Sheehan who has been offered a new deal by Bolton boss Ian Evatt.
Caldwell believes he can tempt the player to Devon with the prospect of regular starts, although the Welshman started 12 of Wanderers last 17 matches, including the emphatic 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the Papa John’s Trophy final at Wembley back in March.
Caldwell recently saw several players leave St James’ Park with Jamal Blackman, Jevani Brown and Jack Sparkes being released and four on loan players including the impressive Jay Stansfield returning to their parent clubs.
What Was Said
Boss Caldwell said: “There is no news yet, we have a good relationship with them all and I know how players think. The season finishes and they go to Marbella or Las Vegas and then come early June they start to panic and think they haven’t got money coming in soon, so hopefully then phone me and accept the contract.”
Caldwell added: “They need to make sure it’s right for themselves and their families, so we’re willing to give them that time. Come early June though if they haven’t made that call to me, then we will be pushing them because we obviously have to start looking elsewhere if it’s not going to happen.”
Writer’s View
Exeter comfortably survived in League One last season, finishing 14th despite a poor end to the campaign which saw them lose six out of the last seven matches before signing off with a final day win over Morecambe which saw the Shrimps relegated.
Caldwell will be looking to build on that finish but is acutely aware that he has one of the smallest budgets in the division.
Those budget constraints mean he is especially keen to tie down his prized assets. Key and Collins in particular, would be two big losses for the club if they decide to try their luck elsewhere and Caldwell will be hoping for answers soon.
