Veteran defender Angus MacDonald has been released by Exeter City just three months after joining the League One club, bringing an abrupt end to a short-lived spell in Devon.
Experienced Defender Among Eight Shown the Door
MacDonald, who counts Barnsley, Hull City and Rotherham United among his former sides, joined Exeter in February in a move designed to shore up their defensive ranks for the final stretch of the season. Despite earning plaudits for his contribution, he has not been retained as part of Gary Caldwell’s squad overhaul following a 16th-place finish.
The 32-year-old now becomes a free agent once again, adding another chapter to a nomadic career that has seen him ply his trade across England and Scotland, including a recent spell at Aberdeen. His exit comes as part of a major squad reshuffle by Caldwell, who confirmed that eight senior players are departing.
The decision to let MacDonald go was described by the manager as particularly difficult, given the defender’s impact in a short period.
“Angus, for me, was a really, really difficult one,” Caldwell told the club website. “He has been exceptional since he came to the club. He’s done everything we asked this season. So he was by far the toughest and I thank him for everything he has done because since he’s been at the club, he has really delivered and helped in the second half of the season with some of the defensive performances we’ve had.”
Despite the praise, Caldwell suggested that MacDonald’s departure was due to a surplus of defenders with similar profiles already on the books, as the club looks to refresh and rebalance its squad dynamics for the coming campaign.
MacDonald’s career has spanned over a decade since emerging from Reading’s academy. After loan spells with the likes of Basingstoke and Torquay United, he went on to captain Barnsley, sign for Hull City in a high-profile move, and later feature for Rotherham and Swindon. His time at Hull was marred by a legal dispute over medical history, which ultimately saw Barnsley ordered to pay £1 million in compensation.
His stint at Aberdeen also ended earlier this year, paving the way for a brief but well-regarded run at St James Park.
Writer’s View
MacDonald’s exit highlights the ruthless nature of summer rebuilds in the EFL. While short on time, his impact at Exeter clearly didn’t go unnoticed—but modern squad planning often prioritises long-term vision over sentiment.
At 32, he still offers leadership and experience that could prove invaluable to another side in need of a reliable presence at the back. Expect interest in his services to materialise quickly as clubs reassess their defensive options during the off-season.
