Exeter City has been dealt a blow to their transfer plans as reported target Josh Sheehan has agreed a new deal at Bolton Wanderers, according to The 72.
Midfielder Sheehan has signed a new two-year deal with The Trotters, keeping him at the club until 2025 and sending Grecians’ boss Gary Caldwell back to the drawing board.
Who is Josh Sheehan?
Sheehan is a Llanelli-born midfielder who started his career at Swansea City but represented the first team only once during a League Cup tie. He would spend two spells on loan at Yeovil Town where he scored his first goals in the Football League.
The 3-cap Welsh international would then head back to his homeland, joining Newport County initially on loan before securing a permanent move to the League Two outfit. Sheehan would spend a total of five seasons at Rodney Parade, making just shy of 180 appearances had 30 goal involvements. His time with County would come to an end after their 2020/21 League Two playoff final defeat to Morecambe at Wembley as he headed north for Bolton Wanderers.
His league appearances for his current club have been somewhat limited, with just 54 in the two seasons he has spent at the University of Bolton Stadium and contributed six goals and four assists.
Writer’s View
Sheehan would have been a useful addition for Gary Caldwell as he approaches his first full season in charge of Exeter as he would have given the Scotsman options in midfield.
The former Newport man can anchor the middle of the park as well as push forward to influence the game in the attacking third so would have been looking to provide chances for top scorer Sam Nombe as well as add experience to a midfield that is still waiting on the likes of Archie Collins and Kevin McDonald to sign new deals.
With his game time at Bolton somewhat limited it is perhaps a touch surprising that Sheehan has decided to extend his stay as opposed to seeking more regular action elsewhere and you would imagine this was part of any discussions he had with manager Ian Evatt but from Wanderers’ point of view, they will be pleased to have secured their man and stopped him playing for a divisional rival.
Josh has had a cruciate knee injury. That’s why the number of appearances is low.